Stephanie Leonard, niece of Charlene Rollo
Posted Wednesday, February 22, 2012 09:58 PM

Just received word from Mary Lou Pierson Brown, NHS Class of 1962, that Stephanie Leonard was killed in an auto crash this morning on I-65 in Nashville, TN.  Stephanie is the daughter of Martha Rollo Leonard and niece of our classmate Charlene Rollo Singletary.  There is a video clip on the Nashville Channel 5 website and the following text:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Police said they will charge a driver with vehicular homicide in a wrong way crash that killed a woman.

Rebecca Benson, 22, allegedly got onto I-40 at Broadway going the wrong way in her 2006 Lexus RX 330 around 4 a.m. Wednesday. She then allegedly struck a 2000 Chevrolet Ventura van head-on on I-65 North near Wedgewood. Police said she drove nearly a mile south in the northbound lanes before she hit the van.

The driver of the van, 29-year-old Steffanie Leonard, died at the scene.

Benson was critically injured and taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center.

"There were reports of an explosion, but obviously when you have a head on crash, especially when it's on the interstate, there is going to be a severe impact and I would assume it made a very loud noise similar to an explosion," said a Metro Police officer at the crash.

First responders said that Benson smelled of alcohol and she allegedly said she had been drinking prior to the crash.

Benson will be arrested and charged once she is discharged from the hospital.

The interstate was shut down for four hours; it re-opened around 8:30 a.m.

Obituary for Ms. Steffanie Ann Leonard

LEONARD, Ms. Steffanie Ann, age 29 of Franklin, TN, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Graduate of Page High School. Sales Represenative with Pepsico. Member of Walker Baptist Church. Survived by: parents, Doug & Marti Rollo Leonard; sisters, Jennifer & Rebekah Leonard; niece, Kody Leonard and numerous loving family members. Memorial services will be conducted 3:00 PM Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, Pastors Mitchell Karnes & Don Atkinson officiating. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Visitation will be 4-8PM Friday and one hour prior to service at WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 615 794-2289. www.williamsonmemorial.com