A two-day trial concluded yesterday in Overton County when the jury found 46-year-old Shannon C. Harvill guilty for the vehicular homicide of Shannon Cook by intoxication, vehicular homicide of Shannon Cook by recklessness, vehicular assault of Joy Pugh, and vehicular assault of Thomas Cook.

After the verdict, Harvill’s bond was immediately revoked. He was taken into custody until a sentencing hearing scheduled for January 21, 2020.

The incident that Harvell was convicted on took place January 27, 2017. Harvill was driving his Nissan Sentra automobile on Highway 164 (Hanging Limb Highway) in Overton County. Witnesses testified that Harvill’s vehicle passed them in no passing zones traveling at a high rate of speed.

As Harvill attempted to negotiate a curve near the Lovejoy Market at a high rate of speed, his car began to leave the roadway, Harvill’s car then came back across the roadway and into the on-coming lane of travel where his car crashed head on into a Nissan Maxima driven by 27-year-old Shannon Cook. Other occupants in Shannon Cook’s vehicle were Joy Pugh and Thomas Cook. The violent impact of the collision killed Shannon Cook instantly. Joy Pugh and Thomas Cook sustained serious injuries.

Law enforcement officers obtained a blood sample from Harvill which was tested at the TBI’s crime lab. The results of that testing showed Harvill’s blood contained a high level of meth. Also present in his blood were oxycodone, diazepam and nordiazepam.

Shannon Cook’s body was taken from the crash scene to the medical examiner’s office where an autopsy was performed. The medical examiner determined that she died from violent blunt force trauma.

The case was prosecuted at trial by District Attorney General Bryant C. Dunaway and Assistant District Attorney Jackson Carter. The defendant was represented at trial by Cookeville attorneys Bill Cameron and Lindsey Cameron Gross.

“Impaired and reckless driving is a serious problem which is prosecuted diligently by the District Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement agencies. I am proud of the team work in this case in holding Shannon C. Harvill accountable for his violent act that took the life of Shannon Cook, seriously injured Thomas Cook and Joy Pugh and forever affected the lives of the victims and their families,” said District Attorney Bryant Dunaway.