CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A Clarksville man was sentenced Wednesday to 3 1/2 years of probation after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide in a 2023 fatal wreck on Guthrie Highway.
Nicholas Wade Hawkins, 25, took an open plea on Dec. 8, 2025, to vehicular homicide; a vehicular homicide-driver intoxication charge was dismissed as part of the settlement.
As previously reported by Clarksville Now, on Nov. 5, 2023, at about 4:15 a.m. there was a crash near the 4200 block of Guthrie Highway. Tammy Biggins, 53, was driving a 2013 Kia Forte. Her vehicle was hit head-on when Hawkins, driving north on the highway in his 2021 Nissan Versa, crossed into oncoming traffic.
Biggins died at the scene. About 10 months later, in September 2024, Hawkins was charged with vehicular homicide-driver intoxication and vehicular homicide in the case, according to previous reports.
Victim’s family: ‘Five lives completely changed’
On Wednesday, Christina Keller, Biggins’ sister, showed the court a framed picture of the two of them and described their close relationship. “I just miss my sister,” she said through tears, adding that their last conversation was hours before the crash.
Keller said she was still grieving the death of her husband when she learned of her sister’s death. She told the court she now has panic attacks while driving and can no longer drive at night.
“He shouldn’t be drinking and driving,” she said, asking the court to impose the maximum sentence and to require Hawkins to complete alcohol-related classes.
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Cheyenne Grandowicz, Biggins’ daughter, said her mother was a “free-spirit” who helped those in need. “My mother really tried to be the best person she could for anyone,” she said. “She would help who needed help. She would make meals for anyone who needed it.”
Grandowicz serves in the Army and said she was one week away from moving for a promotion to drill sergeant when her mother died. She took in her younger sister, who was 10 years old at the time. She said the tragedy “completely derailed” her professional goals.
Grandowicz told the court about the emotional toll the loss has had on her family. “Five lives are completely changed, and one is completely gone,” she said, asking the court not to allow Hawkins’ record to be eligible for expungement.
Defendant’s mother: ‘He’ll spend the rest of his life proving it’
Marlow Palermo, Hawkins’ mother, described him as “kind-hearted” and said he was “never in any trouble.”
Palermo said Hawkins’ injuries from the crash put him in the ICU and required a medically induced coma. His injuries included a brain injury, fractured vertebrae, broken facial bones and a broken foot. She said when he woke up in the hospital, the first thing he said was, “Call 911. Call the ambulance. She needs help.”
Palermo said since the accident, Hawkins has been pursuing a business degree, was promoted at work and has been focused on bettering himself. She added that he was remorseful about the crash. “He doesn’t take this lightly at all,” she said. “He knows that he changed peoples’ lives that night, and I know that he is remorseful. And he’ll spend the rest of his life proving it.”
Defendant apologizes to victim’s family
Hawkins apologized to Biggins’ family. “My apologies will never be enough compared to the loss her family has suffered, but I’m sorry for the grief, pain and heartbreak that I’ve caused,” he said. “Because of my decisions that night, a life was taken – someone who was loved and important to so many people.”
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Hawkins said he had never been in legal trouble prior to the accident. “I made a terrible mistake to continue driving while I was exhausted, and that reckless decision changed the course of many lives forever.”
He said he regrets his decision every day and wishes he could change it, adding he’s taken responsibility for his actions. “I understand that punishment is appropriate,” Hawkins said. “I only ask the court to also consider that this terrible tragedy does not define the person I want to be for the rest of my life.”
Prosecution, defense argue over judicial diversion
Assistant District Attorney Nathaniel Sherman argued against judicial diversion, pointing to the impact on Biggins’ family. “The defendant made choices and mistakes, and because of that, Tammy Biggins is not here,” he said.
Sherman pointed to the statements from Biggins’ family, including Grandowicz’s testimony about becoming her sister’s caretaker and giving up career opportunities. “Ms. Biggins whole family has had their future determined by the defendant’s mistake,” he said. “The defendant may try to make things right, but there’s nothing he can do to make that better.”
Defense attorney Jake Fendley argued in favor of a judicial aversion. “The evidence has also shown in this court that there this young man who was finding his way and he had an accident coming home from a wedding,” Fendley said.
He pointed to Hawkins’ steady employment, pursuit of a college degree, strong family support and remorse. Fendley also said the pre-sentence report indicated Hawkins was unlikely to reoffend. “He’s a first-time offender, he’s not had any trouble since this occurred, and this was an accident,” he said. “He never intended to harm anybody.”
Sentencing: 3 1/2 years probation
Judge William Goodman III sentenced Hawkins to serve 3 1/2 years of probation instead of judicial diversion. “Diversion enables one to ultimately have their record expunged,” Goodman said. “There will remain a conviction on his record.”
Hawkins was sentenced as a Range I offender for vehicular homicide, a Class C felony subject to three to six years. Goodman also ruled that Hawkins’ license will be revoked for the duration of his probation.
“My thoughts and prayers are with you,” he said to Biggins’ family.
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