Merritt pleads guilty to Misch accident death

Claude Merritt stands with defense attorney Jack Dearing before Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler at the Moore County Courthouse Friday. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Claude David Merritt, 66, appeared before Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler at the Moore County Courthouse to make his plea. Merritt was previously scheduled to stand trial for the death on Nov. 7 and 8.

According to assistant district attorney Mike Randles, the plea took place in Moore County "because this was the day the court could get everything done."

Merritt will be sentenced on Dec. 21, and Crigler said Merritt could face from 15 to 60 years for the Class A felony. Merritt was taken into custody after making the plea.

Randles said that two counts of reckless endangerment and driving on a revoked license, third offense, were dropped as part of the plea agreement with Merritt.

"He's pleading to the most serious charge," Randles said. "Speaking with the family, they're in agreement with resolving the case this way."

The accident, which happened on Oct. 17, 2008, occurred in front of Heritage Medical Center when Merritt's van struck a station wagon in which Misch was a passenger. Police said at the time that Merritt "didn't know what had happened."

Merritt also had veered into the path of the vehicle driven by James Earl Hill Jr. Hill and another passenger, Susan Martin, were treated at Heritage after his car ran off the roadway, down an embankment and into a field following impact, police said at the time.

Randles said that Merritt had a blood alcohol level of 0.11 and also had traces of the drug diazepam in his system.

Misch was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center's trauma center after initial treatment at Heritage, and was in the Intensive Care Unit for 11 days. Following that, she was transferred to another hospital and had to rely on a ventilator and feeding tube for survival. She was eventually transferred to a nursing home in Michigan, where she died in April from the injuries she suffered last year.

Randles also stated that Misch never regained consciousness after the accident.

The indictment against Merritt, handed down in May, said that death was the result of his intoxication and that he had three prior DUI convictions. Merritt was initially charged with DUI (fourth offense) and driving on a revoked/suspended license and admitted to police he had consumed several beers.

During the plea, Merritt told Crigler that he may be guilty of homicide in the death, "but not the aggravated part."

However, Crigler explained to Merritt that his previous DUI charges resulted in the charges of aggravated vehicular homicide.