Rebecca Benson has been formally served with a vehicular homicide warrant charging her with killing a Franklin woman while traveling the wrong way on I-65 early Wednesday.

Benson, 22, is continuing to recover at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from injuries received in the crash. Her bond is set at $250,000.

Benson is accused of driving drunk when her 2006 Lexus RX 330 collided with a Chevrolet van being driven by Steffanie Leonard, 29. Leonard died at the scene of the 4 a.m. crash.

Benson’s activities and whereabouts prior to the collision remain under investigation. Anyone with information about this aspect of the case is urged to contact the police department’s Traffic Unit at 862-7738.

Traffic Unit officers are swearing out a vehicular homicide warrant against 22-year-old Rebecca Benson in connection with this morning’s fatal crash on I-65 near the Wedgewood Avenue exit.

The investigation shows that Benson, driving a 2006 Lexus RX 330, was traveling south in the northbound lanes of I-65 at 4 a.m. when she crashed head-on into a northbound 2000 Chevrolet Ventura van. The driver of the van, Stephanie Leonard, 29, of Perkins Drive in Franklin, died at the scene. Benson, of Hickory Club Drive in Antioch, was critically injured. She is being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Benson got onto the interstate at Broadway before crashing a very short time later. First responding officers found that Benson smelled of alcohol. She acknowledged drinking prior to the collision.

Benson will be arrested upon her discharge from Vanderbilt.

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) invites the public to a meeting this Thursday, February 23, 2012, to share information about the upcoming widening project on Interstate 65 between Trinity Lane and Dickerson Road in Davidson County.

The project is approximately 1.5 miles in length and will widen I-65 from six to ten lanes between Trinity Lane and Dickerson Road.  This project will also include the construction of noise barriers along sections of I-65 Northbound.

Thursday’s meeting will include a short presentation to provide a brief overview of the widening project, the project schedule, as well as gather information from the community about the design of the proposed noise barriers.

Representatives from the Department will also be available to answer questions and provide information on various aspects of the project.

The meeting will be held:

Thursday, February 23, 2012

5:00-7:00 P.M.

Maplewood High School Auditorium

401 Walton Lane

Nashville, TN 37216