Cedar Grove man receives 18-year sentence for vehicular homicide

A Cedar Grove man was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Monday for the 2016 traffic death of a Gibson County man.

Robert Hicks, 54, received the sentence from Circuit Court Judge Donald Parish during a Monday morning court hearing after entering a guilty plea for aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges.

Hicks was charged for his involvement in a two-vehicle accident that claimed the life of Trenton resident Dylan Hopper, 23, on November 23 of 2016.

According to the crash report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Hicks was driving westbound on Highway 70 near Huntingdon when his vehicle crossed the centerline on a curve and struck an eastbound vehicle driven by John Gordon of Cedar Grove.

Hopper was a passenger in Gordon’s vehicle.

Both Gordon and Hicks were injured in the crash.

Tests indicated that Hicks’ blood-alcohol content was well above the legal limit.

It was pointed out during Monday’s hearing that Hicks had been convicted for DUI twice before the fatal accident.