According to WTVF-TV, a Murfreesboro man has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication after police said he struck and killed a pedestrian on April 16 in Nashville.
Police said that Charles James Farris II, 40, was drinking when he struck Carlton Pitts, who was crossing the street at the Harding Place exit just off Interstate 24 eastbound, around 11 p.m.
Pitts’ fiancé reportedly told investigators that she was walking with him in a crosswalk when he was hit.
Police told WTVF that Farris drove about 250 feet following the impact of the crash with Pitts on the hood of his car before he stopped on a ramp, backed up and struck a guardrail. Pitts’ fiancé was not hurt in the pedestrian accident.
A police report said that Farris smelled of alcohol, and was unsteady on his feet and had watery eyes; he also failed field sobriety tests. He reportedly told investigators that he had a few glasses of wine prior to the crash.
WTVF reported that Farris was taken to an area hospital where his blood was drawn and sent to be analyzed for alcohol and drug content by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF A DRUNK DRIVER HITS ME?
Drunk driving accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries like spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and broken bones. It should be noted that according to the Tennessee Department of Public Safety, there was an average of 9,480 drunken driving crashes each year in the Volunteer State from 2003 to 2007.
There are no excuses when it comes to drunk driving. If you are out drinking, find an alternative form of transportation like public transit, a designated driver or a taxi.
If you have suffered a horrific injury or lost a loved one in an accident involving a drunk driver, please contact our Nashville accident attorney. Call (615) 866-3938 to schedule a free case review, or visit our site for more information.
“And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” – Exodus 33:14