A TBI toxicology report indicates 25-year-old Michael Don Shepherd had meth in his blood system at the time of a fatal vehicle accident last month in Cookeville. He was charged with evading arrest and three counts of vehicular homicide.

A high speed chase that started on I-40 near Monterey on January 26, 2021 resulted in Shepherd getting off the interstate in Cookeville. Shepherd struck the passenger side of Chatman’s Nissan Versa at the intersection of South Willow Avenue and Interstate Drive. Shepard received minor injuries while 24-year-old Amanda Chatman and her two sons, 4-year-old Alexton and 3-year-old Braydon, died in the impact.

Shepherd’s bond was initially set at $775,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 10, 2021.