Daphna Collier Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for High-Speed DUI Crash That Killed YMCA Worker Donell Brown
A 64-year-old Augusta woman will spend a decade behind bars after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide in connection with a violent, high-speed collision on Interstate 520 that claimed the life of 33-year-old Donell Brown.
Daphna Collier entered her guilty pleas in Richmond County Superior Court before Judge John Flythe. The sentencing brings a measure of legal accountability to a crash that devastated a local family and the wider community that knew Brown through his work with the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta.
The Crash on Interstate 520 and the Fatal Injuries
The tragedy unfolded on June 24, 2025, during a period of heavy traffic congestion on I-520. According to her indictment, Collier was operating under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol, weaving through vehicles at a high rate of speed in her Chrysler 300. She slammed into the back of Brown’s GMC Savannah van near the Wrightsboro Road exit.
The force of the impact was catastrophic, sending Brown’s van rolling several times. At the time of the collision, Brown was on his way to pick up food for the Family YMCA from the Golden Harvest Food Bank.
First responders rushed him to Doctor’s Hospital with severe internal bleeding, two broken legs, broken ribs, and a traumatic brain injury. He underwent emergency surgery and was placed on a ventilator, but he never regained consciousness. More than five weeks later, on July 31, 2025, Brown succumbed to his injuries.
Judge Sentences Collier to Ten Years in Prison
In Richmond County Superior Court, Judge Flythe sentenced Collier to 10 years in prison for first-degree vehicular homicide, to be followed by five years of probation. She also received concurrent one-year sentences for driving under the influence, reckless driving, and following too closely.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Flythe recommended that Collier undergo residential substance abuse treatment while incarcerated.
A Life Devoted to Community and Family
Born on July 20, 1991, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to Donell Brown Sr. and Stephanie Banks, Brown graduated from Midland Valley High School. He maintained a deep love for the outdoors, particularly fishing, alongside interests in anime and video games.
His primary dedication, however, was to his family and the young people he served. Through his work and volunteer efforts with the Family YMCA organization in the Central Savannah River Area, he forged a special connection with local youth.
He left behind his wife, Becca Byars, their daughter, two sons, his parents, and his brother. In an emotional social media statement following his passing, Byars shared the profound grief of losing the man she expected to spend the rest of her life with, recalling the life they had built together brick by brick over 15 years.
Colleagues, friends, and local residents marked his passing with an outpouring of support, remembering him as a dedicated community member whose routine trip for the YMCA ended in an irreversible loss for his family and the region.
