Utah County Historic Courthouse
News Details

KENNETH LEE DREW

On January 10, 2017, Kenneth Lee Drew was sentenced to the Utah State Prison for an indeterminate term of 1-15 years for the death of Ashleigh Holloway Best.

Mr. Drew had previously pleaded guilty as charged to Manslaughter, a 2nd degree felony.

Shortly after midnight on May 17, 2016, Mr. Drew drove his employer's tow truck to the residence of Brennen and Ashleigh Best in Pleasant Grove to repossess their 2002 Lincoln Navigator. When Mr. Drew arrived, Mr. Best blocked access to the Lincoln Navigator by standing between the tow truck and the Navigator. Both men argued about the repossession of the Navigator and Mr. Best was then allowed to enter his home with the agreement that he would update his payments on the Navigator and show proof of the payments to Mr. Drew to avoid the repossession. Upon entering the residence, Mr. Best instructed his wife, Ashleigh, to drive the Navigator to her mother's house.

As Ms. Best drove away in the Navigator, Mr. Drew used his tow truck to try to box the Navigator into the cul- de-sac, but was unsuccessful and Ms. Best drove away. Mr. Drew sped after her in close pursuit. The chase led both vehicles to the S-curve on 100 East, between the Pleasant Grove Cemetery and Pleasant Grove Junior High School, with the tow truck slightly ahead and to the left of the Navigator. Mr. Drew, in the tow truck, driving straight, boxed the Navigator in at the S-curve. Traveling at more than 50 mph, the Navigator, driven by Ms. Best, jumped the curb and struck a tree at 650 North 100 East.

Ms. Best was pinned in the driver's seat under the engine and collapsed dashboard. Once paramedics extracted her they worked quickly to resuscitate her. Despite their heroic efforts, Ashleigh Best was pronounced dead at 1:08 a.m.

Mr. Drew's employer later told officers that it is company policy to never chase anyone who tries to avoid a repossession of a vehicle. The employer further explained that the company has regular trainings on such company policies and Mr. Drew was aware of the policy.

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