Woman convicted of vehicular assault, DUI in 2011 crash with motorcyclist

A Loudon County jury has convicted a motorist of vehicular assault and driving under the influence in a 2011 crash in Loudon County that left a motorcyclist in a coma for weeks.

Jurors returned their verdict Tuesday after a daylong trial for Angela Coker, according to 9th Judicial District prosecutors.

On Sept. 29, 2011, Coker was driving a on Mitsubishi sedan on U.S. 11 when she struck Michael James Moore of Ten Mile, Tenn., on a motorcycle from behind, the prosecution alleged.

Evidence presented by prosecutor Frank Harvey showed Coker was under the influence of a “cocktail” of five different prescription medications, including twice the therapeutic level of Oxycodone, at the time of the crash.

Prosecutors said Coker ran over Moore, dragging the motorcycle 75 to 100 feet before coming to a stop. A Loudon police officer testified authorities could find no evidence of skid marks at the scene, indicating Coker, represented by defense attorney Brian Nichols, didn’t try to break before she collided with Moore.

Moore spent nearly a month in a coma and suffered brain injuries, a broken shoulder, broken ribs and loss of some sight in an eye.

Loudon County Criminal Court Judge E. Eugene Eblen will sentence Coker on Dec. 16. She faces two to four years for the Class D felony vehicular assault conviction and 45 days to nearly 12 months on a second offense DUI.