January 10th, 2017 by Thomas J. Henry

Pedestrian Hit and Killed by Alleged Drunk Driver

A white cross with roses on it alongside a road

wooden cross roadside memorial

According to WJHL, a pedestrian is dead after being hit by a drunk driver in Sullivan County, Tennessee, on Monday morning.

Details of Drunk Driving Crash

Jeffrey W. Rouse, 58, was walking alongside U.S. Highway 421 southbound at around 11:00 a.m. local time when the pedestrian accident occurred. A vehicle driven by 53-year-old Charles H. Callahan was driving south on the highway when it drifted off the road and struck the pedestrian.

WJHL reports that Rouse died from injuries in the crash. Officials say Callahan has been charged with vehicular homicide, DUI, and attempted tampering with evidence.

Pedestrian Crash Statistics

The following information is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In 2014, 4,884 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes.
- Pedestrian deaths accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
In 2014, 90 percent of the pedestrians killed in traffic crashes involved a single vehicle.
Alcohol involvement – for the driver and/or the pedestrian – was reported in 48 percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes in 2014.