Mother of Bedford driver: Son was driving on suspended license

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Bedford County man dies after car hits Roanoke home

Read Bennett’s obituary

 

ROANOKE — The mother of a Bedford man who was killed in a Friday night car wreck in Roanoke said her son was driving on a suspended license.

Thomas Bennett, 21, died after the car he was driving struck a house on Fleming Avenue. Police say Bennett was driving recklessly on Williamson Road, and when an officer tried to pull him over, he wouldn’t stop. The officer, who lost sight of Bennett’s car after it turned onto Fleming Drive, saw the vehicle after it crashed into the house.

Bennett was later pronounced dead at Carlion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Emily Bennett, the driver’s mother, told WSLS 10 that her son got in with the wrong crowd and was currently on probation. She said Bennett was caught driving without a license and his license was currently suspended.

One witness said the incident started at the Go-Mart on Williamson Road, where people hang out and show off their cars.

That’s how Chris Pearson met Bennett, who friends called “Drew.”

“Our friend Drew came and did a loop in the Go-Mart parking lot and he took off spinning tires even though people weren’t supposed to,” Pearson said, adding that is when police tried to stop Bennett’s red Hyundai Tiburon.

Bennett ended up crashing his car into the home of Clarence and Alleta Bowman, both 77.

The road in front of the Bowmans’ house makes a sharp turn, but the skid marks from Bennett’s car went straight.

The two passengers, Zachary Cofer, 20 of Bedford County, and Travis Davidson, 20 of Lynchburg, were transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. They were listed in good condition Sunday night, according to a Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital spokeman.