Chattanooga man pleads guilty in drunken driving death of friend

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

photo Robert Allen Atwood

A 22-year-old Chattanooga man today pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in a drunken driving crash that killed his friend.

Robert Allen Atwood faces sentencing on May 6 for the homicide.

Chattanooga police arrived at the 4211 Tennessee Ave. crash scene at about 4:30 a.m. Dec. 4, 2011.

Atwood and his passenger, James Michael Travillian, had both been drinking, according to court records. Atwood's blood alcohol level an hour and a half after the crash was .16, twice the legal limit to drive in Tennessee. He also had prescription drugs in his system.

Travillian's level measured .22 at the time of death.

Atwood was driving his Camaro at a high speed on Tennessee Avenue when he lost control, left the roadway hitting a fence, three trees and two parked cars and then struck a house.

Travillian was ejected from the car during the crash. Medical workers pronounced him dead at the scene upon their arrival, according to court documents.

For more see tomorrow's Times Free Press.