Bassist charged with vehicular homicide

Photo: CTV

3 Doors Down bass guitarist Todd Harrell performs during the band's tour stop Saturday, June 27, 2009 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas (Eric S. Swist / The Courier)

The bassist for the rock band 3 Doors Down has checked himself into a drug treatment facility after bonding out of jail, the musician's lawyer said Wednesday.

Robert Todd Harrell is accused of driving under the influence and causing a fatal crash last weekend in a Nashville suburb. Police say the 41-year-old bassist admitted to drinking and taking prescription drugs before the wreck on Friday.

"He was released on bond and immediately went and checked himself into treatment," said Nashville criminal defence lawyer Ed Ryan.

The attorney declined to say where the musician is being treated. However, he said that the treatment is not court-ordered and that Harrell went voluntarily. Ryan also said that he couldn't comment any further because he had just been retained and was beginning to look into the case.

Harrell spent several days in jail and was freed on $100,000 bond on Tuesday.

Police say the 41-year-old bassist was under the influence when he was speeding down Interstate 40 and clipped the back of a pickup truck. The driver of the truck, 47-year-old Paul Shoulders Jr. was killed as a result of the crash.

A publicist for 3 Doors Down announced this week that the band was cancelling four of its upcoming appearances out of respect for the victim.

Harrell is facing multiple charges, including vehicular homicide by intoxication, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, violation of the implied consent law and possession of contraband.

Police records say that Harrell seemed to be confused about the crash and what happened, and he showed signs of being impaired during a series of field sobriety tests. Harrell admitted to drinking hard cider earlier in the evening and to taking prescribed Lortab and Xanax, records show.

A breathalyzer test showed that Harrell had no alcohol in his system, records show. He refused to give a blood sample and told police that he was worried about narcotics showing up in his system, records say. Police were able to get the sample through a court order.