Man out on probation in deadly drug case charged with vehicular homicide

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Nashville man who was out on probation after being arrested for selling fentanyl-laced heroin has been identified as the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed the rider of a Honda motor scooter in May of 2017.

Derrick Huey, 21, was charged on Saturday with the death of 48-year-old Vernon Knight.

The death occurred when Huey was driving a stolen Dodge Challenger that had been stolen from the airport.

According to police, the 2017 Dodge Challenger was traveling down the wrong side of Mt. View Road around 9:10 p.m. on May 30th at a high rate of speed. Seeing the vehicle heading toward him, Knight jumped away from his scooter. It was at this time that the vehicle left the roadway and struck Knight before it crashed into some trees.

The two people in the vehicle then began to flee the scene, briefly returning to the Challenger to retrieve a bag and a gun.

Further investigation led to the arrest and questioning of Huey who denied any connection to the crash.

Police then took a sample of Huey’s DNA which later proved to match the blood that had been found on the airbag in the Challenger.

The crash occurred only five months after a Second-Degree Murder and an Attempted Second-Degree Murder charge against Huey were reduced to Aggravated Assault and Attempted Aggravated Assault. These charges were brought forth after Huey was identified as the person who had dealt fentanyl-laced heroin to two men. One of the men died and the other sustained internal injury.

Along with the Vehicular Homicide, Huey is also being charged with Auto Theft, Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Deatgh, Failure to Report a Crash, and Unlawful Gun Possession by a Convicted Felon.

Huey’s bond on the charges from the May 2017 case is set at $164,500.