3 Doors Down bassist charged with vehicular homicide
Todd Harrell of the popular rock band 3 Doors Down was arrested by Nashville Police Friday night and charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication. Harrell was driving his 2011 Cadillac CTS at high speeds when he clipped a 2003 Ford F-150, causing the truck to careen over a guardrail and down an embankment where it flipped over.
The truck’s driver, Paul Howard Shoulders, Jr. was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle. He was produced dead at a Nashville hospital later that night.
Harrell’s Cadillac came to a stop about a quarter mile down the road from the scene of the wreck after colliding with a retaining wall. According to police, Harrell showed signs of impairment during sobriety tests, and admitted to drinking hard cider and taking Lortab, a painkiller, and Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug.
During his booking at a local jail, Sheriff’s deputies discovered a plastic bag hidden in Harrell’s sock that contained eight Xanax pills, 24 Oxycodone pills and four Oxymorphone pills, police said. Subsequently Harrell is also charged with bringing controlled substances into jail.
In the wake of the accident 3 Doors Down posted two statements on their band website:
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Howard Shoulders, Jr. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends at this difficult time."
"Out of respect to Paul Howard Shoulders Jr. and his family, 3 Doors Down has canceled the band's four scheduled U.S. April / May appearances. They will resume touring May 31 in Moscow, and return to the U.S. for scheduled dates in July."
Harrell was booked and jailed with bond set at $100,000.
SOURCES
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
