Man sentenced for New Year’s Day crash that killed father and 2 kids

Video in player above shows prior coverage of this incident.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A man has been sentenced to at least 64 years in prison after a triple fatal crash that occurred on New Year’s Day in 2023.

The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office has announced the sentencing of Carl Smith, 45, of Dayton. He was convicted of killing three people in a car crash on New Year’s Day in 2023.

On Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a traffic crash in the 5900 block of Germantown Pike in Jefferson Township. Upon arrival, crews discovered a two-vehicle head-on crash.

In one vehicle were eight passengers, including one adult and seven children. Two occupants were pronounced dead on scene — 49-year-old Ta’Wayne Palmer Sr. and his son, 13-year-old Ta’Wayne Palmer Jr. The other passengers were taken to the hospital, where 9-year-old Octavis Palmer was also pronounced dead upon arrival.

The investigation determined that the driver of the other vehicle, Carl Smith, had crossed the center line and struck the victim’s vehicle head-on. The defendant’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .290% — more than three times the legal limit. His driver’s license was also suspended at the time of the crash.

On March 29, 2023, the Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted Smith for:

• Three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide – driving under suspension
• Two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Assault – under suspension
• Three counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence

On June 13, a jury found the defendant guilty on all counts. Today, Wednesday, June 26, Smith was sentenced to a total range of 64 to 71.5 years in prison.

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