Man sentenced for New Year’s Day accident that killed father and two children

The video in the player above shows previous coverage of this incident.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A man has been sentenced to at least 64 years in prison following a triple-fatal car crash on New Year’s Day 2023.

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has announced the verdict against Carl Smith, 45, of Dayton, who was found guilty of killing three people in a car crash on New Year’s Day 2023.

On Sunday, January 1, 2023, sheriff’s officers were called to a traffic accident in the 5900 block of Germantown Pike in Jefferson Township. Upon arrival, officers discovered a head-on collision between two vehicles.

One vehicle had eight passengers, including one adult and seven children. Two occupants were pronounced dead at the scene – 49-year-old Ta’Wayne Palmer Sr. and his son, 13-year-old Ta’Wayne Palmer Jr. The other passengers were taken to the hospital, where 9-year-old Octavis Palmer was also pronounced dead on arrival.

The investigation revealed that the driver of the other vehicle, Carl Smith, crossed the center line and collided head-on with the victim’s vehicle. The defendant’s blood alcohol level at the time of the accident was 0.290% – more than three times the legal limit. His driver’s license was also suspended at the time of the accident.

On March 29, 2023, the Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted Smith for:

• Three cases of serious negligent homicide – driving despite having a suspended license
• Two cases of grievous bodily harm with a vehicle – under suspension
• Three cases of driving under the influence of a motor vehicle

On June 13, a jury found the defendant guilty on all counts. Today, Wednesday, June 26, Smith was sentenced to a total term of 64 to 71.5 years in prison.