A Reidsville city councilman was arrested Tuesday by the Georgia State Patrol on charges stemming from a crash in Tattnall County in May of 2025.
Troopers from the Reidsville GSP Post arrested Pharis Daniel Bennett on July 22 on charges of Serious Injury by Vehicle, a felony, and Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Speeding in Excess of Maximum Limits, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, and a Seatbelt violation. The charges are a result of Bennett being the driver of a vehicle which crashed on Lakewood Drive between 8:30p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on May 4, 2025. The vehicle reportedly flipped multiple times.
According to warrants filed in the Tattnall County Magistrate Clerk’s Office:
- Serious Injury by Vehicle – For causing the bodily harm to one of his passengers, which rendered a member of her body useless and disfigured her body [carries a sentence of 1-15 years if convicted]
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – [up to 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine, if convicted]
- Speeding in Excess of Maximum Limits – For driving in excess of the speed limited zone;
- Reckless Driving – For driving with reckless disregard for the safety of person and property;
- Failure to Maintain Lane – For moving the vehicle from the lane before it could be done safely;
- Seat belt Violation (Adult) – For not wearing a seat belt in a passenger vehicle.
Bennett was also injured in the crash after he was ejected from the vehicle. He suffered two brain bleeds, a cerebral edema, internal bleeding, three skull fractures and several other broken bones. He spent weeks at the hospital in Savannah before he was released to recover at home.
Following his arrest Tuesday, Bennett was booked into the Tattnall County Jail and released after posting an $8,000 bond.
The case will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for further court action.
Bennett was sworn in to the Reidsville City Council in April of 2025. Under Georgia law, elected officials facing felony charges are not automatically removed from office. No action is taken by the state until the Grand Jury process. If a True Bill of Indictment is returned, the district attorney’s office will send paperwork to the Governor’s Office and the Governor will appoint a committee to determine whether or not the charges adversely impact the elected official in their official capacity.
