Legal loophole resulted in DUI drivers getting away with crimes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A mother of four was hit and killed by a drunk driver but his blood alcohol test results were thrown out because of a jurisdictional technicality.

Multiple drivers called 911 when they saw Dylan Grady swerving his brand-new car in and out of traffic.

“He’s going to kill someone,” said a passenger during a call to Clarksville police in 2021.

Sadly, seconds later, that is exactly what happened.

“She was my best friend,” said Ann Lazu, the mother of the victim said. “I don’t have anybody now.”

Her mother, Ann Lazu, remembers getting the phone call, seeing the pictures, and then sitting in a hospital room where a doctor delivered the blow.

“It was the ride home, thinking on, ‘how am I gonna tell four kids that their mom is gone? How am I going to tell her sisters that their sister is gone? How am I gonna tell her father,’” remembered Ann Lazu.

Shade Lazu, 28, was driving home from work when she was hit by Grady, a repeat DUI offender, on Clarksville’s Ashland City Road.

A blood draw revealed he was, once again, drunk behind the wheel and well over the legal limit. The blood draw happened at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, however, and not in Clarksville where the crash took place.

So the results were thrown out and deemed inadmissible in court, which meant Grady was able to plead guilty to vehicular homicide by intoxication.

He’ll have to serve about three and a half years in jail.

Getting convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide would have carried a minimum sentence of 15 years.

“I’m pissed. I’m mad. I’m furious,” said Ann Lazu.

“It happens more than a lot of people may think,” said Norris Skelley with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

Skelley took Lazu’s story to the Tennessee General Assembly and managed to get a new law passed.

Starting July 1, blood draw search warrants will be valid statewide.

“All we ask for is responsibility and accountability from those who choose to drive under the influence,” said Skelley.

Sadly, the change will not make a difference for Lazu’s case.

“Not only am I not fine, but my family is not fine,” said Ann Lazu. “Because I don’t wish this on anybody.”

The family hopes this new law might save someone else’s life.

M.A.D.D. got another law passed this year that lowers the aggravating DUI factor in Tennessee from a blood alcohol content of .20 to .15.

This law also takes effect on July 1 and will ensure first-time offenders will serve seven consecutive days in jail.

Next, MADD plans to push for a law that also lowers the aggravating factor for vehicular homicide from a .21 to a .15.

WSMV4 is partnering with MADD for their upcoming “Walk Like MADD” event on June 29th at Cornelia Fort Air Park in Nashville.

To join our WSMV4 team, visite here.

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