COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A drunk driver who hit and killed a young doctor will only spend a year in jail.
Brent Davis struck a plea deal in court Monday morning.
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Tyler Wallace was killed after Davis slammed into his car in 2020 as he was leaving his post-medical training class. Davis was leaving a nearby bar. Investigators found beer cans in his truck.
Davis was charged with homicide by vehicle and DUI.
Channel 2′s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michelle Newell was in Smyrna, where she learned that the sentence was not an easy decision for the District Attorney’s office.
The dangerous intersection was a major factor.
Assistant District Attorney David Holmes told the judge that he doesn’t think the case would hold up in court.
Davis was sentenced to 15 years in jail with 14 of those years served on probation.
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Wallace’s family held his white doctor’s coat tightly and displayed a large picture of him as his sister spoke in court.
“This is Dr. Tyler Wallace, our brother’s white court,” Wallace’s brother, Sharisse Gilbert, said. “He earned his this his first year in medical school in Augusta. We’ll never have an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his labor, the fruits of his sacrifice, the fruits of his discipline, and neither will he.”
Defense attorneys argued that Wallace pulled out in front of Davis, who had the right of way.
“The fact that he was DUI is truly irrelevant if he isn’t at fault,” the defense attorney said.
Gilbert argued that the fault lay with Davis because he was driving under the influence.
David Holmes, the Cobb County District Attorney, said several factors brought them to a plea deal, including questions about the safety of the intersection.
“This is an issue that Smyrna needs to address. This is a very dangerous intersection,” Holmes said. “We believe this is the best potential resolution to this case giving the potential pitfalls at trial.”
Wallace’s family said they are trying to keep the legacy of his work alive through a foundation.
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