Blayton Trevor Bethune, 25, of Bryant, Ala., was arrested last week in connection
with the July 2018 death of his passenger in a midnight crash on Highway 136 East. He faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and first-degree homicide by vehicle as well as reckless driving.
Brittany Morrow Crane, also 25, was killed when she was ejected from Bethune's black Chevrolet Silverado after it left the roadway, overturned and crashed into a tree. The two young people had been traveling west, or down Lookout Mountain, on Highway 136 late on the night of Sunday, July 15, when Bethune failed to negotiate a curve and crashed into the woods on the south side of the highway. The Georgia State Patrol report lists the crash as occurring at approximately 12:15 a.m. on the morning of the 16th. The report says neither of the two was wearing a seat belt.
(Photo of Brittany Morrow Crane from her obituary. Mugshot of Blayton Bethue courtesy the Dade County Sheriff's Office.)
Ms. Crane was listed as ejected completely from the truck while the driver, Bethune was only partially ejected and was extracted by responders. Ms. Crane was reported dead at the scene while Bethune was listed as seriously injured and taken to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. GSP's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) placed a request with Erlanger at that time that Bethune's blood be tested.
The Dade County Sheriff's Office subsequently arrested Bethune on a warrant May 9. He is free on $50,000 bail with a trial tentatively set for October.
