By Russell Hood

The Webster Progress-Times

WALTHALL - A Webster County grand jury has indicted the driver of a car who was involved in an accident last month that resulted in a passenger's death.

Nathan Allen Collier of Eupora was indicted on a felony charge of aggravated driving under the influence by the grand jury empaneled on June 19.

The indictment alleges that Collier, on May 21, drove a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more in his blood, and negligently caused the death of Nichole Harvey.

Collier, 25, of 212 S. Allen, entered a plea of not guilty when arraigned before Circuit Judge Joseph H. Loper Jr. on June 21. Loper set bond for him at $10,000 and after finding him to be indigent, appointed Public Defender Stephanie Mallette as counsel.

However, Collier remains in the county jail without bond under a "hold" for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The MDOC has issued a warrant for a probation violation against him because of the indictment. Deputy Sheriff Tim Mitchell said Collier is on probation for an auto theft conviction in Montgomery County.

The accident resulting in Collier's indictment occurred in the early-morning hours on Clarkson Road. Mitchell said Collier was driving a 2002 Honda Accord with three passengers: Harvey, who was in the front passenger seat; Carrie Keller, who was in the back left; and Amanda Bright, who was in the back right.

The westbound car left the road near Hendrix General Store and flipped repeatedly, officials previously said. All inside were ejected except Collier, who apparently was the only one wearing a seatbelt, said Mitchell.

Harvey, 26, died from multiple injuries at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo on May 23.

Bright, 27, has remained in NMMC since the accident and was listed in fair condition as of Monday, said a hospital spokesman. Keller, 25, was hospitalized in Starkville and released the next day while Collier was admitted to NMMC and discharged four days later.

Mitchell said Collier had a 0.09 percent blood alcohol content, which was above the legal limit of 0.08. Aggravated DUI carries a maximum prison sentence of 25 years.

In January 2002, Collier was convicted of first-offense driving under the influence of a controlled substance in Eupora Municipal Court. Court records show that he was fined $705, and ordered to attend the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program and MADD Victim Impact Program.

He was also ordered to submit to random drug screenings and not to use marijuana or other illegal drugs. Additionally, Municipal Judge Buchanan Meek Jr. placed him on probation with Court Programs Inc.