Nineteen months after a Wilson County man was critically injured when a driver under the influence crashed into him in Louisiana, justice has been served.
WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nineteen months after a Wilson County man was critically injured when a driver under the influence crashed into him in Louisiana, justice has been served.
The prosecuting attorney told News 2 the man who hit Kevin Smith and drove off last year pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years behind bars.
“This was such a huge mountain to cross. I think celebrating all the small victories has helped it,” Tuesday Smith, Kevin’s wife, said.
In March 2023, Kevin was completing his final truck stop delivery in Baton Rouge when, according to Tuesday, “he was ran over going 50 miles an hour by a guy overdosing on opioids.”
Doctors said it was a miracle that Kevin survived with so many injuries. He spent the next four months recovering in a hospital and rehabilitation center.
Then, in July 2023, News 2 was there the day he returned home to Lebanon, with his punctured lungs, broken ribs, and legs still healing after at least 20 surgeries.
“He’s been walking now on his own without a cane or wheelchair. It’s miraculous,” Tuesday said.
However, she told News 2 it’s been a long journey to recovery.
“It’s just changed every aspect of our life,” Tuesday said.
On Thursday, Oct. 10, Kevin and Tuesday read their victim impact statements in court. The driver actually apologized to the Smiths.
“He said, ‘Ms. Smith, Mr. Smith, I am just so sorry [for] what I’ve done to you and your family. It was my fault, I take full responsibility, and I want to change,'” Tuesday recalled. “And I never thought we would hear those words.”
After an emotional year and a half, Tuesday said they are finally healing: “Now we’ve got the sentencing behind us, and now we’re free and we’re kind of, we don’t know what to do next other than rejoice.”