Joycelyn R. Gardiner, a former track star at Lincoln and Memorial High Schools, was killed when her car was struck by an alleged drunk driver in Nashville, Tenn. early Saturday morning.

The 22-year-old Port Arthur woman was just months away from obtaining her criminal justice degree from Tennessee State University with aspirations of attending law school. She was also a member of the university’s Tigerbelle track team.

According to a press release from the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department, the driver who struck Gardiner, Victor Javier Benitez, 24, is a native of Mexico. Benitez is in the Metro Jail on a charge of vehicular homicide. He is being held without bond after being identified as a suspected illegal immigrant.

Gardiner was traveling west on Old Hickory Boulevard in a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix at 2:45 a.m. Saturday and entered the intersection of Nolensville Pike with a green traffic signal. Benitez, who was driving a 1998 Ford Expedition, was traveling south on Nolensville Pike, ran the red light and collided with Gardiner’s car. The Expedition left no pre-crash skid marks, indicating that Benitez did not try to brake prior to impact, police said.

Witnesses to the crash, who attempted to render aid to the drivers, described an extreme odor of alcohol about Benitez and said that he was very combative, according to police reports. Gardiner and Benitez were transported to a local hospital in Nashville and Gardiner was pronounced dead at 4 a.m. Benitez was treated for a head laceration and a broken rib. He was released from the hospital and jailed that afternoon.

Benitez, who carried an identification card listing a Houston address, was arrested in Nashville on Feb. 15, 2006, on three counts of car burglary and two counts of attempted theft. He was convicted on the car burglary charges in criminal court on April 11, 2006, and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation.

Benitez was arrested on Nov. 5, 2006, on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was convicted of all three charges the following day and received a total sentence of seven days.

After the fatal accident on Saturday, he claimed a Tennessee address.

His preliminary hearing on the vehicular homicide is set for Thursday morning.

Gardiner is remembered in her hometown of Port Arthur as a track and field star.

Tom Halliburton, longtime sports writer at The News, was saddened to hear of Gardiner’s death.

“I remember when she started out in ninth grade at Lincoln. She really didn’t look like she’d have a chance at becoming anything in track and field. It was through her desire, dedication and hard work that she became a great track and field star,” he said. “She later went on to represent Lincoln at a state meet.”

Funeral services for Gardiner have not been announced.