Driver charged in fatal pedestrian crash, admits to drinking before incident
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A Milwaukee man has been charged in the death of a 64-year-old man after hitting him with a car while driving intoxicated.
According to the district attorney’s office, Christopher Anderson faces several charges including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated 4th offense with a minor child in the vehicle, resisting an officer and bail jumping.
On Monday, police were called to the area near 29th and State around 9 p.m. Authorities say when they arrived on the scene, the victim, Bruce Williams, was found lying in the road bleeding and barely conscious.
Williams was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. At the crash scene, police say Anderson went up to officers and told them he had been driving and hit Williams. The officer noticed Anderson’s speech was slurred, his eyes were glassy and bloodshot, his balance was unstable and officers could smell alcohol.
Police noticed Anderson’s car had damage to the front end. A bottle of brandy was found in the SUV and his 8-day-old baby was also in the car.
Authorities say Anderson admitted to being the driver of the car and said he had drank alcohol before the crash. Officers attempted to have Anderson do a field sobriety test, but he refused. Anderson was then arrested and taken to a hospital for a blood draw as part of a search warrant. He did not want to comply and officers had to hold him down. His blood alcohol level was .308 within three hours of the crash.
Later, Anderson gave a statement to police. He admitted to drinking a quarter of a pint of brandy at home before getting the car. Anderson also said he was going less than 30 miles per hour and did not see Williams. Anderson says he heard a thump and the passenger in the car told him he hit someone. He says he stopped the car and waited for police to arrive.
Anderson faces several fines and four felony charges.
His initial court appearance is scheduled for July 23.