Driver Indicted in Motorcyclist’s Death

July 14, 2021 – A 53-year-old woman was indicted Tuesday on reckless vehicular homicide felony charges related to a 2019 crash in which a motorcyclist was killed, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Defendant Tia Christian is free on $15,000 bond.

Investigators said Christian was driving her car at a high rate of speed when she struck the back end of the motorcycle ridden by 31-year-old Curtis Thomas-Watkins. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash occurred around 10:15 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2019, on westbound I-55 at the southbound exit for Third Street.

The case is being handled by Senior Felony Asst. Neil Umsted and Asst. Dist. Atty. Regan Murphy of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 3 that handles cases in General Sessions Division 11 and in Criminal Court Division 3.