Grieving Season 2 'Survivor' winner forgives man convicted in son's death in horror car wreck
- Tina Wesson, who won Season 2 of 'Survivor' in 2001, lost her 25-year-old son, Taylor Lee Collins, in 2013
- Braylon Davis convicted of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to two years in connection to fatal crash
- On December 3, 2013, Collins was the passenger in Davis' car, and both friends had been drinking
- On Monday, Wesson came face-to-face with Davis in court and offered him her forgiveness
Former reality TV contestant Tina Wesson has offered her forgiveness to the man convicted in her son's death.
Wesson, who won Season 2 of 'Survivor,' spoke in court Monday to Braylon Davis, who received a two-year sentence for his role as a driver in the single-car crash that killed 25-year-old Taylor Lee Collins in 2013 in Chattanooga.
Collins was the only passenger in the vehicle, and both men had been drinking.
Mother's forgiveness: Tina Wesson, who won Season 2 of 'Survivor' (pictured left), on Monday offered her forgiveness to Braylon Davis (right), who has been convicted in the death of Wesson's son Taylor (seen left)
Wesson won the show's $1million prize in 2001 and returned twice to compete again, most recently in 2013 when she was joined by her daughter, Katie Collins (left)
Davis pleaded not guilty in December to multiple charges including vehicular homicide by intoxication, but a jury convicted him of criminally negligent homicide.
Wesson, 54, told Davis that she harbors no bitterness but still misses her son 'with an intensity you cannot realize,' reported the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
'I have forgiveness for you,' the heartbroken mother told Davis during Monday's hearing in Hamilton Count Court.' I understand mistakes and I understand grace.
'You have my grace today, Braylon, and I just hope you will take that grace and make better choices in your future.'
Wesson noted in her remarks that during his trial, Davis did not seem to be overwhelmed with remorse.
When given a chance to speak, Davis said he thinks every day about the crash that killed Collins.
'I am extremely sorry about what happened,' he said, addressing Taylor's family from the stand. 'And I know that you say you don't really see the emotion.
'Well, there's nothing to see. It's what I feel down inside me, and I can't do anything more than apologize to you and try to move on with my life and pray that you can, as well.'
On December 3, 2013, Davis (left) was the driver and Collins was the passenger (right) when their car went off the road in Chattanooga and rammed into the wall of a garage
Special bond: Katie Collins posted this photo depicting her and her late brother on her Facebook page shortly after his death
Tina Wesson's season of 'Survivor,' which was filmed in Australia, aired back in 2001. She won the show's $1million prize after defeating 15 other contestants, among them former Fox & Friends present Elizabeth Hasselbeck, and returned twice to compete again, most recently in 2013 when she and daughter Katie teamed up for 'Survivor: Blood vs Water,' which was filmed in the Philippines.
Taylor Collins died on December 3, 2013, when the car he was riding in went off the road in Chattanooga and rammed into the wall of a garage at 20 South Germantown Road.
Collins, who was sitting in the front, was ejected from the vehicle because he was reportedly not wearing a seat belt.
He was rushed to an area hospital, where he died a short time later from his injuries
Travis Boles, the grandfather of Taylor's girlfriend, told the National Enquirer at the time that the victim and his friend, Braylon Davis, were heading home from a party when the accident happened.
His obituary stated that Collins graduated from Pellissippi State Technical Community College and recently moved from Knoxville to Chattanooga for work. He had a passion for extreme sports, including motocross, wakeboarding and snowboarding.
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