RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. — A mother is advocating for tougher penalties for hit-and-run drivers following the death of her son in 2021.
Kim Webb has dedicated four years to honoring her son, 19-year-old James Bardsley Jr. (Jimmy), who was killed while riding his motorcycle home from work on September 2021 at Rocky Fork Almaville Road and Morton Lane. According to authorities, Jimmy died at the scene after being struck by a hit-and-run driver.
Smyrna Police took 29 hours to locate the suspect, Ruben Buenrostro Contreras, driving a red truck. He was convicted on December 7, 2023, for leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, tampering with evidence, and failure to yield. Contreras was sentenced to five years for tampering. Records indicate he was released under court-supervised parole less than a year later, with his sentence set to conclude by August 2026.
Webb described the outcome as inadequate, noting Tennessee's laws lack enhanced penalties for fatal hit-and-run crashes. In response, she is promoting the James Bardsley Life Protection Act, aimed at establishing a separate offense for fatal hit-and-run incidents, implementing mandatory minimum sentences, and increasing penalties for those who flee crash scenes.
“I want to prevent that for as many of these mamas as I see on TV crying and hoping for justice,” Webb said.
Webb tends to her son's memorial regularly, expressing a desire to keep his memory alive. She emphasized the need for legislative change to provide justice for other families in similar situations.
As an example, she cited Florida's laws, which impose a minimum four-year sentence for fatal hit-and-runs, reportedly reducing such incidents by 13%.
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