Georgia truck driver sentenced to 75 Years for drunk driving crash that killed four near Florida border

A Georgia judge handed down a long prison sentence to tractor-trailer driver Nicholas DeWayne Burist following a deadly multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Camden County near the Florida-Georgia border on July 1, 2022. Prosecutors say Burist was driving under the influence of alcohol when he veered out of his lane, struck a vehicle and crossed into oncoming traffic, triggering a pile-up that claimed four lives, including two traveling with him and a 14-year-old girl, and left four more seriously injured.

Despite Burist’s claim that he lost control after being tail-gated and seeing a vehicle abruptly brake in front of him, video evidence and the testimony of 24 witnesses contradicted his version of events.  At sentencing, the judge imposed a total term of 75 years, consisting of 30 years to be served in prison and 45 years on probation thereafter.