The driver of a cargo van who hit and killed a man on Interstate 75 early Saturday morning has been charged with murder.
Steve Douglas, public affairs officers for Kentucky State Police Division of Commercial Enforcement said Austin Meredith, 24, of Sevierville, Tenn. reportedly had the odor of alcohol on his person, glassy and bloodshot eyes and failed several field sobriety tests administered by officers following the wreck near the 30 mile marker in Laurel County.
The victim, Howard M. White, 49, of Bagdad, which is in Shelby County, was hauling a vehicle on a rollback tow truck north on I-75. As he passed exited 29 about 4 a.m., he pulled off to the shoulder to check the load.
While White was checking the load, Douglas said Meredith, who was driving a Ford van box truck, swerved off the road, hitting White and his truck.
Douglas said White was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers in White’s truck were not injured.
Douglas said they were family members of White
North bound I-75 was shut down for more than five hours as vehicle enforcement officers investigated the wreck and emergency personnel worked to clear the scene.
“He did not say much,” Douglas said when asked about what Meredith told officers about the wreck.
Meredith was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, murder, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and five safety violations regarding the operation of a commercial vehicle.
He is being held in the Laurel County Detention Center without bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Laurel District Court at 11 a.m. Monday.
Kentucky State Police, West Knox Fire Department and Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County assisted at the scene.
