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Dealer Comments on Test Drive That Led to Louisville Car Accident

According to the president of Commonwealth Dodge, the salesman who was riding as a passenger during a test drive told the customer to slow down twice before the deadly car accident.  The fatal collision occurred on Sunday, August 23, 2009.

The Louisville car accident resulted in the death of two people.  Police said that Bryan Lee, the 30-year-old customer who was driving the car, was speeding at 100 MPH in a 45 MPH zone when he struck a Mercury Sable that was getting on Fern Valley Road from the Pebble Creek apartment complex.

Toya Buckner-Dioum, 40, and passenger, Sherman King Sr., 63, both died at the accident scene from the injuries they sustained in the crash, said Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Gayle Norris.

Commonwealth Dodge released a statement that the salesman begged Lee to slow down on two occasions and was not encouraging him to speed.  The statement also said that the dealership has done more than 150,000 test drives in its 31 year history and has never had a serious event occur before Sunday’s accident.

Lee pleaded guilty to two charges of first-degree manslaughter. The salesman has not been charged in the accident.

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