Photo of Kevin Wilson’s family (left to right) Meagan Casto, Kevin Wilson, Linda Wilson, Jim Wilson and Miranda Casto. Kevin’s Grandfather spoke during the sentencing saying to Mr. Brannon, “I have to forgive you, but I don’t have to forget. I haven’t forgiven you yet, but I will. But I will never forget.”
On March 4th, 2024, Jeffrey Allen Brannon, drove a school bus under the influence of twice the legal limit of alcohol. This tragic incident resulted in the worst accident in the history of Calhoun County Schools. Brannon lost control of the bus and overturned on its side on South Calhoun Highway 16, violently tossing 19 students into a chaotic nightmare.
The courtroom was filled with brokenhearted people as everyone listened to the suffering of the victims and their families. The sentencing began as Defense Attorney Keisha D. May spoke on behalf of the defendant, requesting that the judge consider the letters of character references from his friends and family. She emphasized that the event was horrific and would not be minimized. Brannon expressed remorse and stated that he would have done everything differently if he could. However, he acknowledged that it was too late, and he sought the judge’s consideration of his past, community ties, and the charges he had pleaded.
Several of the accident victims and their families chose to speak at Brannon’s sentencing, sharing their experiences and expressing their grief.
First to speak was Miss Helmick, whose son, Hoyt Helmick, was a victim of the accident. She recounted that her son had suffered both mental and physical injuries, and that the incident had had a profound impact on him and his entire family. After the wreck, Hoyt was no longer the happy child he had been before. He couldn’t sleep, replayed the accident in his head, where one of the students even thought he was dead because he was unresponsive until an adult arrived on the scene. The mother said that the incident led to a loss of trust in all the people at the school. Hoyt missed several days due to his injuries, had to undergo counseling, and had numerous doctor’s appointments. He also experienced side effects and his mental health suffered greatly due to fear. His doctor referred him to an outside counselor, and his friends were concerned about him because he no longer acted the same. He used to love talking and being around people, but after the accident, he didn’t enjoy those activities anymore. He experienced daily headaches and was unable to keep up with his daily routines for school. He had to be driven to school for the remainder of the school year and didn’t like to ride the bus unless his regular bus driver, whom he trusted, was there. He had to drop from weightlifting and dreaded physical therapy because of the pain and continues to require medication. Hoyt’s two younger brothers were also affected by the accident due to being with their parents when they arrived at the scene causing them to be afraid to ride the bus. They spent many nights crying themselves to sleep, and the incident has taken a toll on their mental health. They missed many days of work, and Hoyt still doesn’t ride the activity bus. “The bruises may heal, but the mental anguish likely never will,” she said. Hoyt did not attend because he didn’t want to be in court to face Brannon.
Meagan Casto, Accident victim’s Kevin Wilson’s aunt, spoke second. Kevin lost his leg in the accident and has been forever altered Mrs. Casto said. He has suffered both mental and medical challenges. He was only 15 years old, and on the day of the wreck when, after Charter Cottrell had carried Kevin off the bus and placed him on the ground, Jeffrey Brannon looked him in the eye and told him he “wasn’t hurt to get up.” This was the most difficult call Meagan’s Mother – Kevin’s grandmother (who raised Kevin from 8 months old) had ever received. She had to listen to Kevin saying to her Mom “I need you, Mommy!” Mrs. Casto said that Brannon showed a blatant disregard for Kevin. She turned to Brannon from the podium and told him in a loud voice, “You were in charge of them. Kevin had eleven surgeries in thirteen days; he laid in the hospital with his leg split open, he screamed, begged and pleaded for them to “please pray with me I hurt so bad.” He suffered so much, there was nothing they could do. Nothing helped this child for a month as he laid and cried out in pain. He almost died ten times in thirteen days. Got blood clots and had to be put on blood thinner which he reacted to, he went through hell.” Mrs. Casto told Judge Ashley that she hoped she gave him every year that she could and that they run them consecutively, he doesn’t deserve freedom because Kevin doesn’t have it.
High School student Alex Anderson, a victim of the accident told Judge Ashley that “What happened on March 4th, 2024 was unlike anything that he’d ever experienced. I was glad I was able to wrap my arm around my friend and help. All I could hear were the screams and cries as I was carried off the bus in terrible pain from a broken femur. The days to follow were a blur, I was unable to do anything that I used to do. My senior year was ruined. I’ll have many moments of pain, this is something that I and the others will live with because of one man’s mistake.
Kara Starcher read a statement from her daughter Lydia Starcher:
“In the wreck, I got a concussion that gave me headaches and nausea. The weekend after the wreck, I had to leave practice multiple times for All Area Band at CMHS. The loud noises and playing my instrument triggered the headaches. For weeks, I couldn’t practice my instrument as much as I needed to either. Another trigger for my headaches was heat. The loud noise trigger eventually went away but the heat one lasted all summer until the weather cooled down. Being in marching band was hard because practice starts at the end of July when it’s hot outside. Being in uniform also gave me some headaches too and having a headache while actively playing an instrument feels really bad. I thought my headaches were gone until graduation this year when the music room was hot and we were in our uniforms. Now my next marching season is in jeopardy because my doctor wouldn’t clear me for my sports physical because of the headaches. I often wonder how many times we rode the bus with a drunk driver. I’ll probably never know the answer to that question. I spent weeks worrying about Kevin who had been my friend and classmate since first grade. My sisters always rode the activity bus with me but they weren’t on that night because neither one had practice. Would they have been seriously hurt like Kevin? Those aren’t things a teenager should have to wonder and worry about. Personally, I think Jeff should spend the rest of his life in prison for hurting us the way he did and causing us so much trauma.”
Kyerstan Perkins’ son Garrett Carpenter was injured on the bus. Kyerstan recalled getting the call and coming to the scene. “It was the worst thing you could ever imagine,” she said. She told Judge Ashley that Jeffrey Brannon was screaming profanities to the point that she thought he was having a nervous breakdown over having wrecked the bus. She did not realize at the time that he was drunk. Ms. Perkins said that she wanted this day to stand for something, because “these kids didn’t deserve to go through what they did. He (Brannon) made a choice, our kids have no choice on what they had to experience.
As each parent or victim gave testimony, sobs were heard throughout the room. Including those of Jeffrey Allen Brannon,.
In the closing statements of Prosecutor Michael Hicks, he summed the accident up by stating that the defendant’s decision caused immense pain to nineteen children. He read the name of each victim and injuries received.
- Kevin wilson
- Alex Anderson
- Charter Cottrell
- Garrett Carpenter
- Cohen Blankenship
- Destiny Langford
- Hoyt Helmick
- Emily Thomas
- Lydia Starcher
- Camden Carpenter
- Krystal Badgett
- Payton Quick
- Makyia Quick
- Dayvon Mitchell
- Alyssa Ogle
- Allie Ogle
- Bryer Kelley
- Mariah Taylor
- Lauren Lovejoy
Kevin Wilson’s were by far the worst, but each child effected in serious physical, mental and emotional pain.
Mr. Hicks told the Judge that all of the students were dedicated to their studies and attended extracurricular activities including sports and band at Calhoun Middle High School. They are leaders in their community.
Hicks recalled a conversation he had with Roane County Deputy Jeff Smith, who lives in Calhoun and was returning home when the accident happened. He told the Prosecutor that despite his experience as a law enforcement officer who had been shot at, responded to robberies etc., the fear could not be described when he arrived on scene and wondered what was awaiting him on the other side of the overturned bus. “The gravity of the incident was evident from Smith’s words,” Hicks said.
Each child has been impacted, and their suffering will continue. To ensure justice, Hicks’ recommendation to Judge Ashley was that she impose separate consecutive sentences for each child. The charges against Brannon include three counts of DUI causing serious injury which carries a minimum sentence of two years and a maximum of ten years for each count. Additionally, he faces sixteen counts of child neglect, with a minimum sentence of one year and a maximum of five years, on each count. These sentences will be run consecutively, resulting in a total of 22 years to 110 years in prison.
Brannon was given an opportunity to speak, but wept and spoke in manner that could not be heard from behind. He did say that he had gone to Walmart that day, but had blacked out and did not recall anything after that, including the accident. He expressed his love for all the children, describing them like his own, particularly Kevin, who was “always the best kid on the bus,” he said to the Grandfather.
Judge Anita Harold Ashley thanked the families for their statements and appreciated Brannon’s decision to enter a guilty plea for each child. She did acknowledge that Brannon’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit during the accident and expressed his inability to imagine the suffering endured by children, parents, and grandparents over the past year and a half.
Based on the pleas of guilty, Brannon faced the recommended sentence for three counts of DUI causing serious injury, with a minimum sentence of two years and a maximum of ten years in prison on each charge as well as a mandatory fine of $1,000 to $3,000, which he received a fine of $1,000. Additionally, he faced the penalty for sixteen counts of child neglect, with a minimum sentence of one year and a maximum of five years for each count. He will receive 466 days of credit for time served and will be eligible for parole in 22 years, but his sentence is as high as 110 years.
Judge Ashley told those in attendance, “I drive by that scene and it’s tough thinking about the pain each of you have had. I appreciate the gentleman who said he would forgive but not forget. Please don’t forget it’s illegal to drink and drive.” She reflected on the recent loss of her husband and how she had dealt with that loss by reminding herself of everything she has to be grateful for and writing it down each day. She encouraged the families to do the same.
Jeffrey Allen Brannon openly sobbed as he left the courtroom after again expressing his sorrow for the accident.
The victim statements were written during the hearing and are not verbatim, but transcribed as best as possible. The names were also captured as best I could, but should there be errors or omissions in this article, please call me at (304)377-6037 so that I can get it corrected quickly. Shari Johnson, Publisher.
