A’yanna Wilbanks Obituary, Louisville, KY Accident Death – Dasharay Ben’e Arrested in Fatal Smoketown Crash
A 23-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide following a Thursday afternoon crash in Louisville’s Smoketown neighborhood that claimed the life of 19-year-old A’yanna Wilbanks and injured two others. The driver, Dasharay Ben’e, was taken into custody after authorities determined she was driving under the influence with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.168 — more than twice the legal limit.
The crash occurred around 4:53 p.m. on May 14 in the 700 block of Logan Street, between South Shelby Street and South Campbell Street. According to Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), Ben’e was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed when she lost control and struck a building. The collision caused significant damage to the structure, though no occupants inside were injured.
Inside the vehicle, Wilbanks sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office later confirmed her cause of death as blunt force trauma. The other two occupants, including Ben’e, were transported to University of Louisville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Ben’e faces multiple charges, including vehicular homicide while under the influence, wanton endangerment, criminal mischief, failure to maintain insurance, and operating a vehicle while under the influence. Court records indicate she admitted to consuming a single margarita before driving; however, toxicology results showed her BAC was more than double the legal limit.
Police are investigating the crash, examining speed, intoxication, and other factors to reconstruct the events leading to the collision. Authorities noted that a BAC of 0.168 significantly impairs judgment, reaction time, and coordination, making high-speed driving extremely dangerous.
Ben’e appeared before a judge on May 16, with bond set at $10,000. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 26. If convicted of vehicular homicide while under the influence, she could face a prison sentence of five to ten years.
The tragic loss of Wilbanks has deeply affected the Louisville community. She was a young woman with her life ahead of her, and the community continues to mourn her sudden passing.