A Jones County defendant stated his regret for an accident that resulted in the serious injury of the other driver as he entered a guilty plea to the resulting charge.
David Bradford Gillespie was in Jones County Superior Court Sept. 19 to enter the plea, which had been negotiated with the state.
Gillespie was sentenced to the maximum sentence of 15 years for the offense of serious injury by vehicle. He was represented in the plea by defense attorney Gregory Bushway.
Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore prosecuted the case, and Chief Superior Court Judge Brenda Trammell accepted the plea.
The plea has several components beginning with the first 120 days of the sentence being served in a state probation detention center. Upon his release from the detention center, Gillespie is ordered to enroll and complete a THOR-approved, 12-month inpatient rehabilitation program followed by his entry into the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit ACCT program, also known as drug court.
The remainder of his sentence is to be served on probation.
Gillespie told the court at the beginning of the Sept. 19 proceeding that the day of the accident, Sept. 9, 2023, was the worst day of his life.
“I am sorry, and I realize I need accountability,” he said.
Bushway stated that Gillespie had never been arrested prior to the accident and had held a top security clearance. He said his client had also been involved with the community.
“This was a terrible day. He is very remorseful for what happened and is plagued that he has not been able to manage his life without alcohol,” the attorney said.
Trammell said she has been presiding over drug court for 10 years, and this was not just one bad day.
“You don’t hit a 0.3 alcohol level in one day. This is just the first time you got caught,” she said. “The only good thing is someone is making you look at the problem you have. Getting into a car after you have been drinking is the same as pulling a gun out.”
The judge said it was a good thing the victim survived, but she will never be the same.
“If you want to be better, you can be better,” Trammell added.
Accident report
A report of Gillespie’s arrest by Jones County Sheriff Department Deputy Chris Shurley stated he was dispatched to the intersection of Highway 49 and Kent Drive in reference to a two-car motor vehicle accident with injuries.
Shurley said, when he arrived, he saw a gold Volkswagen Jetta in the southbound lane of the road occupied by a white male. He said he approached the car and asked the driver if he was OK, and he said he was.
The deputy, said based on that brief interaction, he detected the odor of alcohol.
Shurley then checked on the driver of the of other vehicle involved, a red Toyota Solara, which was down an embankment. He said the driver was being tended to by people who had pulled up on the scene that included a medical professional. He said the driver appeared to have a broken leg and was receiving first aid while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
The deputy said he spoke to a witness who was behind the Volkswagen traveling northbound toward Baldwin County. The witness said the Volkswagen was driving in the middle lane and constantly all over the roadway.
The officer was told the Volkswagen struck the Solara head-on.
