The ex-girlfriend of Curtis Harper, the 22-year-old charged in the hit-and-run crash that killed a Good Samaritan, a young mother and her unborn child, is speaking out about the suspect and his alleged actions.
Cameron Tarvin, Harper's ex-girlfriend, called police after the crash, according to court documents.
On May 30, just after 1:30 a.m., 24-year-old Chasity Thornell, who was seven months pregnant, and 45-year-old Nelson Soto Sr., were struck and killed while standing along Washington Pike.
Thornell was there to help a friend who had run out of gas. According to police, the two were hit while she was giving Soto a hug to say "thank you."
The vehicle, which police later identified as a 2004 silver Ford Explorer, never stopped.
Police say Harper was driving that SUV, and he is now charged with three counts of vehicular homicide with intoxication, three counts of vehicular homicide due to reckless conduct, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of leaving the scene of an accident, one count of driving under the influence, and one count of driving under the influence - second offense.
On Friday, Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz set Harper's trial date for April 8, 2013.
Meanwhile, Tarvin released a statement about Harper to 10News.
"This situation is heartbreaking for everyone involved, and my heart goes out to the three victims and their families - I can not imagine what kind of pain they must be experiencing," Tarvin wrote.
"I do not feel comfortable commenting on Curt's involvement in this particular situation because the case is still pending, and I do not have all of the details. What I know about Curt, outside of the context of all of this, is that he is a very academically talented individual who is passionate about environmental issues and enjoys working with plants, hiking, rock climbing, and generally spending time in nature and with his friends. He just graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee, and he was very excited about the job he got working at a research facility on campus. He comes from a wonderful family-his parents Pam and Herb Harper are some of the nicest people you could know, and his siblings are amazing people as well. We're not talking about some deadbeat college party kid who has no chance for a successful future. Curt had a lot of things going for him before this tragic accident took place. I'm not saying he's never made a mistake, and I do not wish to excuse any of his actions that day, but Curt deserves a fair trial, just as anyone else would in these circumstances."
Harper is out of jail on a $300,000 bond pending his trial.