Woman Charged with DUI, Vehicular Homicide after Fatal Accident

A Sevierville man is dead after a woman allegedly driving under the influence hit his vehicle and it burst into flames, trapping him inside.

According to Bob Stahlke, spokesperson for the City of Sevierville, a police officer witnessed a vehicle traveling east on Dolly Parton Parkway at a high rate of speed and turned to prepare to make a traffic stop just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The officer then witnessed that vehicle collide into another vehicle stopped at the intersection with Industrial Park Road, causing it to burst into flames.

Officers arrested 30-year-old Meleah Catlett, of Lenior City, and charged her with DUI and vehicular homicide. She was transported to the Sevier County jail for booking.

The victim in the stopped vehicle struck by Catlett was identified as 26-year old Billy M. Oakes of Sevierville. Officers were unable to extract Oakes from his burning vehicle and he died as a result of the collision.

The investigation is ongoing by accident an Accident Reconstruction Team and Criminal Investigations Division.