A Hephzibah woman is facing criminal charges in connection with a fatal crash that claimed the life of her unrestrained passenger, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. Basheenia Lee, 48, was formally charged on Wednesday with second-degree vehicular homicide and failure to maintain lane, stemming from a May 29 accident on Interstate 20.
She was released shortly after on a $2,200 bond. Investigators say the early morning crash occurred around 6:30 a.m. near mile marker 189, just west of Horizon South Parkway. According to the accident report, Lee admitted she fell asleep at the wheel while driving eastbound in the outer lane.
Her 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck drifted off the roadway’s south edge, which jolted her awake. In a panic, she overcorrected, swerving sharply to the left and crossing all lanes of traffic before slamming into the north guardrail…