Woman Indicted: Vehicular Homicide & Assault, DUI

By Debbie Gregory

Bethany Pauline Lankford, 28, of Lafayette, was arrested on September 4, 2023, after the Macon County Grand Jury indicted her on charges stemming from a 2022 one-vehicle wreck she was involved in, on Highway 10 South (Hartsville Road) in Macon County, that killed a Lebanon woman, and injured Lankford and three other passengers.

As previously reported in the Macon County Chronicle, a crash report filed by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, stated that on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, Bethany Lankford, 27, was driving south on Hartsville Road in a 2006 Infiniti Sedan when her vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway, traveled down a steep embankment, struck a dirt bank, and overturned several times.

According to the report, there were four passengers in the vehicle and two people were ejected during the wreck. Kimberly Denney, 54, of Lebanon, who was not wearing a seat belt, was fatally injured. Two juveniles and 31-year-old Derrick Babbitt were all airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital with serious injuries. Lankford, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported by ground ambulance to Macon Community Hospital, and her injuries were listed as moderate. 

The report also stated that it was unknown if Derrick Babbitt was wearing a seat belt. One of the juveniles wasn’t wearing a seat belt and the other juvenile’s booster seat wasn’t properly installed.    

The wreck occurred at approximately 7:48 p.m.

The sealed indictment was served on 28-year-old Bethany Lankford and she faces the following charges: (1 ct.) vehicular homicide-intoxication; (3 cts.) vehicular assault-intoxication; and (1 ct.) driving under the influence (1st offense).

The indictment states: The Grand Jurors of Macon County, Tennessee, duly empaneled and sworn upon their oath present that Bethany Pauline Lankford on or before July 5, 2022, in Macon County, Tennessee, and before the finding of this indictment, unlawfully and recklessly did kill Kimberly Denney by the operation of an automobile, the killing of Kimberly Denney being the proximate result of the intoxication of Bethany Pauline Lankford as set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated 55-10-401, in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated 39-13-213(a)(2), and against the peace and dignity of the State of Tennessee.

Count 2: The Grand Jurors of Macon County, Tennessee, duly empaneled and sworn upon their oath present that: Bethany Pauline Lankford on or before July 5, 2022 in Macon County, Tennessee, and before the finding of this indictment, unlawfully and recklessly did cause serious bodily injury to Derrick Babbitt by the operation of a motor vehicle, and the serious bodily injury was the proximate result of the intoxication of Bethany Pauline Lankford, in violation  of Tennessee Code Annotated 39-13-106, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Tennessee.

Count 3: The Grand Jurors of Macon County, Tennessee, duly empaneled and sworn upon their oath present that: Bethany Pauline Lankford on or about July 5, 2022, in Macon County, Tennessee, and before the finding of this indictment, unlawfully and recklessly did cause serious bodily injury to a juvenile by the operation of a motor vehicle, and the serious bodily injury was the promixate result of the intoxication of Bethany Pauline Lankford, in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated 39-13-105, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Tennessee.

Count 4: The Grand Jurors of Macon County, Tennessee, duly empaneled and sworn upon their oath present that: Bethany Pauline Lankford on or about July 5, 2022, in Macon County, Tennessee, and before the finding of this indictment, unlawfully and recklessly did cause serious bodily injury to a juvenile by the operation of a motor vehicle, and the serious bodily injury was the proximate result of the intoxication of Bethany Pauline Lankford, in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated 39-13-106, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Tennessee.

Count 5: The Grand Jurors of Macon County, Tennessee, duly empaneled and sworn upon their oath present that: Bethany Pauline Lankford on or about July 5, 2022, in Macon County, Tennessee, and before the finding of this indictment, did drive or was in physical control of an automobile or other motor driven vehicle on a public vehicular area as set forth by the statute, to wit: State Highway 10, Macon County, Tennessee, while under the influence of an intoxicant, marijuana, controlled substance, drug, substance affecting the central nervous system or combination thereof that impaired Bethany Pauline Lankford’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle by depriving Bethany Pauline Lankford of the clearness of mind and control of herself which she would otherwise possess in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated 55-10-401, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Tennessee.

Bethany Pauline Lankford’s bond was set at $30,000 and she is scheduled to appear in court on October 13, 2023.