James Brewington Jr. was charged with vehicular homicide by reckless conduct, reckless endangerment and three counts of aggravated assault
Credit: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
NEED TO KNOW
- James Brewington Jr. allegedly killed Dustin McLeod after crashing into his car in Nashville in November 2025
- Brewington turned himself in to the Metro Nashville Police Department on Thursday, July 23
- “It’s definitely a relief to know that justice will be done in whatever way that happens,” McLeod’s widow said after the arrest
A Tennessee man has surrendered himself to authorities nine months after his alleged involvement in a fatal car accident.
James Brewington Jr., 61, turned himself in to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the office announced on Thursday, July 23. Brewington was wanted for his alleged role in the fatal car crash that killed Dustin McLeod, 41, in November 2025.
Brewington was booked on Thursday, July 23. He was charged, including vehicular homicide by reckless conduct, reckless endangerment and three counts of aggravated assault. He remains jailed in lieu of $135,000 bond.
On Nov. 9, Brewington was driving southbound near Bobel Lane in Nashville and tried to go around a vehicle making a right turn, but swerved into oncoming traffic, police said. His Nissan Titan pickup truck then collided head-on with McLeod’s Jeep Renegade. McLeod, his wife, Ashley, and their daughter were inside.
“All of a sudden, a car came out in front of us. It all happened really fast. I just saw the flash of red and everything was kind of in slow motion,” Ashley told News Channel 5 on Thursday, July 23.
Credit: Dustin Mcleod/Facebook
“I watched my daughter’s body go around her seatbelt. I watched my husband fly forward. I got hit with the airbag, which knocked the wind of me for several minutes. Everything was kind of a blur but very clear,” she continued. “The car caught on fire. My husband wasn’t responding to me, my daughter was screaming in the back seat.”
McLeod was transported to Skyline Medical Center, where he died.
Ashley’s leg was shattered and the couple’s daughter was in a neck brace for months.
“I had to sublet my house out to be able to afford the bills,” Ashley told News Channel 5. “We’ve been struggling physically, mentally, emotionally, financially.”
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McLeod’s widow told News Channel 5 that Brewington’s arrest was “kind of a relief.”
“I hadn’t seen his face until today, so that was a bit jarring,” Ashley said. “It’s definitely a relief to know that justice will be done in whatever way that happens.”
Ashley remembered her late husband as “the most genuine human being that you will ever meet.”
“You always knew where you stood with him. He was the realest person. He had the best sense of humor. He’s just an incredible man.”
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