A man is accused of driving while intoxicated and hitting a family of four crossing the street, sending a victim flying, according to Tennessee police.
The 55-year-old driver was seen leaving the scene as officers responded to the crash around 4 p.m. Sunday, July 9, according to the Memphis Police Department.
In addition to smelling of alcohol, police said he had glassy eyes and slurred speech.
The driver told officers he was coming out of a driveway and onto the main road when the four pedestrians “came out of nowhere”, according to an incident report. He said they were in the turn lane when he hit them.
The man also admitted to drinking “about seven beers” before the accident and said he fled because one of the pedestrians threatened him.
He was arrested on multiple counts, including DUI, reckless driving and fleeing the scene of an accident, according to online records.
Police also spoke to the injured family, who said they were trying to get to a store across the street.
The father had his son in his arms while his wife held their daughter’s hand as they waited for traffic to clear, police said. That’s when they were hit by a blue SUV, knocking them to the ground.
The man’s wife said she “flew through the air” when she was hit, according to the report. Her husband remembers looking up to see his wife and daughter “on the floor in pain and crying”.
The injured man confronted the driver, who he said refused to park his car, the report said. A scuffle ensued, police said, and the driver sped away after the pedestrian hit him.
The accused drunk driver was jailed but released July 12 after posting $2,500 bond, online records show.
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