Suspected drunk driver hits and kills pedestrian on Highway 6

Wednesday March 2, 2011: a man identified by Channel 2 News as homeless was hit and killed by a suspected drunk driver while attempting to cross Highway 6 near Piping Rock in southwest Houston. According to the Houston Police Department the car versus pedestrian accident happened at around 11:20PM. The pedestrian died at the scene. Police said the pedestrian was not using a crosswalk when he was hit by the red Mitsubishi Outlander. Police said the 26-year old driver of the Mitsubishi hit and run and fled the scene after the collision but was caught in a nearby neighborhood and police brought him back to the accident scene. The driver was given a sobriety test and then taken into custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. According to Channel 2’s report, the driver admitted to police that he had been drinking since 11:00am that morning. The victim has not been identified and may have been leaving The Dam Ice House on Highway 6. The driver of the Mitsubishi has not been identified either.

Update: The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the driver of the Mitsubishi has been identified as Carlton Jay Eberle. Eberle has been charged with an accident involving injury and it is expected he will be charged with driving while intoxicated. The Chronicle’s report says the deceased pedestrian was 53-years old, but did not identify him by name.

Carlton Jay Eberle, 26, driver of a Mitsubishi that struck and killed a 53-year old pedestrian on Highway 6 in West Houston

If you or a loved on have been victimized by an automobile accident, motorcycle accidentpedestrian accident, bicycle accident or truck accident caused by a drunk driver, call the experienced Houston personal injury attorneys at Smith & Hassler for a free consultation. The earlier in your case you call, the better: the insurance company will want you to settle for a small amount as early as possible and have you sign a release. This will limit the insurance company‘s liability and prevent them from having to pay more later. Smith & Hassler‘s personal injury attorneys have aggressively represented injured people in the Houston area and throughout Texas for more than 20-years, including bereaved family members bringing wrongful death lawsuits.

This poster of 20-year old Jacqueline Saburido, victim of drunk driver, is a grim reminder of the danger drunk driving poses.