Woman Faces Vehicular Homicide Charges for Fatal DUI Accident

A Tennessee woman has been indicted on charges of vehicular homicide and DUI for causing an accident that resulted in the death of Jackie Dunavant, the wife of 25th Judicial District Attorney Gen. Mike Dunavant.

Melody D. Caldwell, 36, was arraigned Wednesday before Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Walker, where she was charged with vehicular manslaughter due to intoxication and vehicular homicide due to reckless conduct and DUI.

According to police reports, Caldwell was driving Dunavant's 2005 Lexus around 11 p.m. on Oct. 4 when the car swerved off and on the road before skidding across the highway and ultimately flipping and landing on its top.  Dunavant died at the scene.

According the report it was believed that both women had been drinking alcohol before getting into the car.

Two days after the accident, Mike Dunavant released the following statement, "I have complete faith in the Highway Patrol in the thorough investigation into Jackie's death."

Mike Dunavant, whose district includes the county where Jackie was killed, will not be prosecuting the case.  Instead, prosecutor Robert "Gus" Radford will serve as district attorney general pro tem.

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