Key Takeaways
- Daniel James Craig was convicted of all counts related to a deadly 2017 crash on Taylor’s Ridge, resulting in one death and two serious injuries.
- Witnesses testified that Craig admitted to drinking before the crash, and a blood draw indicated his alcohol level would have exceeded the legal limit at the time of the collision.
- The jury found him guilty of serious charges, including Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree and multiple DUI counts.
- Craig received a 30-year sentence, with 10 years to be served in the Georgia Department of Corrections.
- Family and officials expressed a sense of justice and emphasized the dangers of drunk driving with strong statements.
A Chattooga County jury has convicted Daniel James Craig on all counts related to a deadly 2017 crash on Taylor’s Ridge that claimed one life and seriously injured two others.
The Collision and Its Aftermath
On July 20, 2017, at approximately 6:47 a.m., a head-on collision occurred at the top of Taylor’s Ridge in Summerville. According to testimony presented during the four-day trial, a civilian witness observed Craig’s vehicle traveling erratically before the crash—running off the road multiple times, hitting a guardrail, and crossing the center line before colliding with the Vaughn family’s vehicle.
The crash resulted in:
- The immediate death of Opal Vaughn, who was a back-seat passenger
- Multiple fractured ribs sustained by Kenneth Vaughn, who was driving
- A fractured hip and rib fractures suffered by Michael Vaughn, the front-seat passenger
Evidence Presented at Trial
Two witnesses who spoke with Craig immediately after the crash testified that he admitted to drinking alcohol with friends earlier and that he smelled of alcohol at the scene. Georgia State Patrol Trooper Lee Bowden also testified to smelling alcohol on Craig and noted his bloodshot, watery eyes when examining him at the hospital.
A blood draw taken at 9:30 a.m., nearly three hours after the crash, showed Craig’s blood alcohol concentration at .05. A crime lab expert testified that using standard metabolism rates, Craig’s blood alcohol level would have been above the legal limit of .08 at the time of the 6:47 a.m. collision.
The jury also heard evidence that Craig had been arrested for DUI in Tybee Island just 20 days before the fatal accident, and that in 2023, he pleaded guilty to another DUI charge in Kentucky.
Verdict and Sentencing
After deliberation, the jury found Craig guilty on all 10 counts, including:
- Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree
- Serious Injury by Vehicle
- Multiple counts of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Superior Court Judge Brian House sentenced Craig to 30 years, with 10 years to be served in the Georgia Department of Corrections.
The Quotes
The Vaughn family expressed appreciation that the case finally went to trial: “We can now have some measure of justice knowing that the defendant is going to prison for a long time.”
District Attorney Clayton M. Fuller acknowledged the delay in bringing the case to trial, stating: “This case should have been tried long ago, and I apologize to the Vaughn family for that delay.” He added that moving older cases forward has been a priority since he became District Attorney in 2023.
Fuller also issued a stark warning about drunk driving: “Driving under the influence is nothing short of a deadly weapon on our roads and deserves swift justice. If you take a life in my Circuit driving drunk—just know this. The only bars in your future are prison bars.”
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
