Woman, unborn baby die after Sevier County DUI crash; man charged with vehicular homicide

What This Story Is About

• A Cocke County man is facing several charges after a woman and her unborn baby died in a crash Sunday afternoon in Sevier County.

Why It Matters

• Rebecca Owens and her unborn baby were pronounced dead after the crash. Court documents said she was 37 weeks pregnant at the time of the crash.

For Context

• His pickup truck allegedly crossed the center line and crashed into Owens’ SUV on Jones Cove Road.

SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) - A Cocke County man is facing charges after allegedly killing a woman and her unborn baby in a crash Sunday afternoon.

According to court documents obtained by WVLT News, 21-year-old Kaden Johnson, of Newport, was driving a pickup truck on Jones Cove Road in Sevier County when he crossed the center line and crashed head-on into an SUV being driven by Rebecca Owens at around 4:20 p.m.

Owens, who was 37 weeks pregnant at the time of the crash, and her unborn baby were pronounced dead at LeConte Medical Center, court documents said.

When troopers spoke with Johnson after the crash, he was allegedly not able to remember why his truck was on the wrong side of the road and later failed multiple field sobriety tests. Additionally, troopers said they could smell alcohol on his breath.

Johnson was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and failure to maintain lane.