By JENNIFER HORTON
The Wilson Post

 The driver of the vehicle that reportedly pulled into the path of a motorcycle driven by an off-duty Lebanon Police officer on Saturday night remains in the Wilson County Jail awaiting the results of a blood alcohol test.

By JENNIFER HORTON
The Wilson Post

 The driver of the vehicle that reportedly pulled into the path of a motorcycle driven by an off-duty Lebanon Police officer on Saturday night remains in the Wilson County Jail awaiting the results of a blood alcohol test.

The accident, which occurred about 11 p.m., Saturday, resulted in the death of Lebanon Police Officer Jeff Stone, 31, and also injured the driver of the vehicle, identified as Jose Chavez, 26.

Laura McPherson, public information officer for the Tennessee Department of Safety, said Tuesday that investigators had confirmed that Chavez and a passenger in the car, identified as Barrea Montes, 24, were undocumented immigrants residing in Lebanon.

She noted that Montes has been taken to Nashville and is in the process of being transported to Louisiana by officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement where he will face a deportation judge.

McPherson added that Chavez did not have a driver’s license.

According to previously published reports, Chavez was driving a 1997 BMW car and was making a left-hand turn off of West Jennings Avenue onto South Cumberland Street/Highway 231 South. Stone, the police officer, was headed south on South Cumberland on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and was in the inside lane. The motorcycle and the vehicle collided with the motorcycle striking the car in the driver’s side.

A state trooper noted that the impact likely knocked out Chavez which caused him to press on the car’s accelerator. The vehicle drove over an embankment and overturned when it ran into guide wires.

Assistant District Attorney Linda Walls said her office is awaiting additional reports and noted that the investigation is continuing.

The Critical Incident Response Team, or CIRT, of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, was back at the scene of the accident on Monday taking measurements and gathering other information which will be compiled.

Those results, along with those of the blood alcohol test on Chavez, will be turned over to the D.A.’s office, Walls said, for further action.

“We’re waiting until all the information is complete,” she noted.

Chavez remains in jail on a hold from ICE officials and has been charged with driving without a driver’s license and failure to yield.

Stone, the police officer, joined the LPD in 2007. Police officials noted that he was well liked by all who knew him and recently headed up a fund raiser for another local police officer, Lt. Brent Willett, who has been diagnosed with cancer. The fund raiser, “Ride for Willett,” was a motorcycle poker-run. Stone was president of the Roughriders Motorcycle Club of Lebanon, a group comprised of law enforcement officers.

Stone was also active in the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Benevolence Association.

He leaves a wife, Jessica, and three children.

Editor Jennifer Horton may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .