ASHEVILLE -- An Asheville man was sentenced to more than five years in prison following a 2022 DWI crash that resulted in the death of a 99-year-old. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of impaired driving.
Sentencing and Charges
Stephen David Cordell, 49, of Asheville, was sentenced on March 23, 2026, to a term of 64-89 months in a North Carolina prison. The sentence follows Cordell's guilty plea to felony death by motor vehicle, felony serious injury by motor vehicle, felony possession of methamphetamine, and driving while impaired.
The charges stemmed from an incident on December 11, 2022, when Cordell, driving a pickup truck while impaired by methamphetamine, crossed the center line on Sweeten Creek Road near Weston Road in Arden, located in Buncombe County. The truck collided head-on with a sedan, resulting in the death of 99-year-old Hubert Garman, who was a passenger in the sedan, and serious injuries to the driver.
Victim and Community Impact
Hubert Garman, 99, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
The crash occurred on Sweeten Creek Road in Arden, an area experiencing increased traffic. The incident underscores the dangers of driving while impaired and the potential for fatal consequences. North Carolina law escalates penalties for DWI fatalities, classifying them as felonies.