London truck driver accused of killing six people in wreck is arrested in Lexington

Benjamin Scott Brewer, the truck driver accused of killing six people in a multi-vehicle wreck outside Chattanooga, was arrested Friday night in Lexington.

Brewer, 39, of London, was apprehended in the Hamburg area at about 8:30 p.m., police Sgt. Joe Anderson said.

Brewer was indicted this week on six counts of vehicular homicide as a result of the June 25 crash on Interstate 75.

Brewer was caught in a parking lot near the Gordman's store off Sir Barton Way. Anderson said he wasn't sure how the tip about Brewer's location was relayed to authorities or from whom it came.

The U.S. Marshals Service shared information about Brewer with Lexington police, Anderson said.

Brewer and another individual — Anderson wouldn't say whether that person was male or female — were taken into custody.

When Brewer was put into a police cruiser, he tried to kick out a side window. It didn't shatter, but Brewer managed to dislodge it from the frame, Anderson said.

Shortly after 9 p.m., a light blue Toyota Solara that Brewer and the other person had occupied was towed from the Gordman's lot.

Anderson said he expects more charges against Brewer and possibly against the other person. Brewer will be lodged in the Fayette County Detention Center until he can be extradited to Tennessee.

Brewer's arrest came just one day after he made the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's "Top 10 Most Wanted" list.

According to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board, Brewer, newly hired for Cool Runnings Express in London, had been on duty for about 50 consecutive hours in the three days leading up to the crash. Federal regulations require truck drivers to be on duty for a maximum of 14 consecutive hours.

The report said Brewer had driven for 15 consecutive hours before crashing in Chattanooga.

Tiffany Watts, 31; Sandra Anderson, 50; Brian Gallaher, 37; Jason Ramos, 36; and two children were killed. According to the report, Brewer's truck hit seven vehicles.

On Monday, a Hamilton County, Tenn., grand jury indicted Brewer on the vehicular homicide counts and four counts of reckless aggravated assault, driving under the influence of narcotics, speeding and making false reports about his duty status.

This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 8:56 PM with the headline "London truck driver accused of killing six people in wreck is arrested in Lexington."