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March 5, 2008

Sentencing continued in reckless homicide

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

The sentencing of a Tennessee truck driver who pleaded guilty in the vehicular death of a Florida man in Whitley County was continued Monday in Whitley County Circuit Court.

Sentencing is now set for April 15.

In January, Bruce Goforth, of Whitwell, Tenn., pleaded guilty to reckless homicide stemming from a September 2005 incident. Vincent Garris, of Orlando, Fla., was pushing his disabled car through a construction zone on Interstate 75 in South Whitley County, about one mile north of the Tennessee border. Police said Goforth struck Garris and his car with his truck. Garris was pronounced dead at the scene.

Goforth continued traveling to Jellico, Tenn., where police cited him for leaving the scene of an accident. Drug tests revealed Goforth had amphetamines and methamphetamine in his system at the time of the crash. However, Goforth was not charged with driving under the influence because he was not visibly under the influence at the time.

Goforth’s initial charge of second-degree manslaughter was reduced to reckless driving with his January guilty plea, and prosecutors offered a four- year prison sentence, of which he would have to serve 20 percent before being eligible to meet the parole board.

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