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A man who is accused of killing two parents in a road collision may be forced to pay child support for their kids.
Patrick Conley was allegedly drunk when he lost control of his car and smashed into a mailbox in Tennessee on Christmas Day.
The 42-year-old is then said to have swerved into the other lane, crashing into an SUV carrying Dustin and Brittany Dillard, both 33, as well as their three children, Preston, Pierce, and Pryor.
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Sadly, both parents were pronounced dead at the scene, while their three boys were badly injured.
A number of beer cans were found at the scene, with police reporting that Conley's car "had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage".
He was later charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of assault by intoxication.
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Conley was called before court on 29 December and pleaded not guilty to both charges.
He was also charged with traffic violations and open container violations, as well as breaking his probation over drug charges.
Speaking to The National Desk, eye-witness Charles said he had to smash through the car window with his gun as he tried to get the boys out to safety.
He told the outlet: "I heard an explosion outside. My son, he came down to me and he said,
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"'There [were] two vehicles that were flipped over on their top,' and I went ahead and grabbed my jacket and I ran outside.'
After checking whether Conley was ok, Charles then went over to the Dillards' car to see if he could help the children.
"I had my handgun in my pocket, so I took the butt of it, and I smashed the window," he said.
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Unfortunately, he was unable to get them out and had to wait with them until the police arrived on the scene.
If he is found guilty, Conley could be forced to pay child support to the three boys involved in crash.
This is because in April last year, the Tennessee Senate passed a law that makes it mandatory for those who cause the death of a parent while driving under the influencer to financially support their children.
These payments would have to be made until all Preston, Pierce, and Pryor are 18 years old.
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The law was passed after Cordell Williams, 30, fiancée Lacey Newton, 25, and their four-month-old son Cordell II, were killed by a drunk driver.
Their death left their other two children Bentley, five, and Mason, three, orphaned.
Dominic Smithers