Michael Lynn Owens of Pickett County entered a guilty plea today in Overton County Criminal Court to vehicular homicide by intoxication and received a 8 year sentence.

On October 16, 2019 on Highway 111 just inside Overton County, Owens was operating his automobile while under the influence of both prescription narcotics (oxycodone and morphine) and methamphetamine.  He drove his vehicle into the rear end of a 1952 antique Chevrolet driven by 71-year-old Bob Edward Allen while traveling southbound. The violent collision caused the death of Allen.

In a statement released today, District Attorney General Bryant C. Dunaway said impaired driving is a grave public safety issue.

“The risk to human life is great. The Allen family suffered a great loss and our community lost a great citizen in Mr. Bob Allen as a result of this crash,” said Dunaway.

“The penalty for being convicted of vehicular homicide is currently much too lenient.   This is a violent and preventable crime. Please encourage the legislature to consider legislation that would at least mandate that a sentence for a vehicular homicide should be served in its entirety,” added Dunaway.