Lee Trawick
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
On Saturday night, Nov. 14, 2020, United States Army Staff Sgt. Ted E. Reese, 41, of Crawfordville, Fla., was riding in the backseat of a pick-up truck on Interstate 10 near mile marker 275 in Suwannee County on his way home after duty, when the vehicle he was riding in was suddenly struck from behind by another vehicle. As a result, both vehicles lost control on the roadway, causing the vehicle Sgt. Reese was traveling in to flip into the median. Sgt. Reese was thrown from the vehicle as a result of the collision and was pronounced deceased.
The driver of the rear vehicle that caused the death of Sgt. Reese was Lucas Dunn, a 20-year-old (at the time of the incident) from Fernandina Beach, Fla. Florida Highway Patrol later determined upon a thorough investigation that Dunn was under the influence of alcohol under the legal age of 21. It was also discovered that Dunn was traveling at a rate of speed in excess of 118 miles per hour with a blood-alcohol level of .15, where the legal limit of an adult is .08. As a result, Dunn was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) manslaughter.
Sgt. Reese left behind his wife of 14 years, Katie Reese and their two children, Joseph Reese-Williams and Samuel Reese. He was the son of Carolyn Wood and the brother to Joshua Eures, Matthew Eures, Darren Wood and Danny Wood.
On Monday, March 14, Dunn appeared in the Suwannee County Courthouse to face his charge of DUI manslaughter. Dunn was expected to plead guilty before the Court at 9 a.m. During his court appearance, the Reese family was present for the trial and was allowed to speak for the first time since the incident. The Reese family still mourns the loss of their husband, father, son, brother and soldier. Dunn stood with his head hung low while the Reese family addressed both him and the court. Among those who spoke was Reese’s wife, who expressed grief and described the magnitude Dunn's actions have had on her and her children. She then expressed that, although the opportunities and reasons have been there to hate Dunn, she does not and has forgiven him of his actions. She only requests that he accepts responsibility for his actions.
Upon the conclusion of everyone's opportunity to speak, Dunn plead guilty to DUI manslaughter and spoke briefly to the Reese family to express his remorse. Dunn has been sentenced to 18 years in state prison, along with having his driver's license permanently revoked.