An Alto man who was allegedly driving under the influence has been charged with striking a pedestrian with his vehicle, leaving the man on the side of the road suffering from serious injuries.
Cpl. Joshua Hedden with the Georgia State Patrol said the accident happened just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday on Georgia 75 near Hamby Street in White County.
Hedden said Christopher Allen Hatter, 41, of Alto was traveling northbound on the highway when he traveled onto the east shoulder of the road and hit James Forrest Stephens, 45, of Helen.
A witness saw the accident and stopped to help, according to Hedden.
"After impact vehicle #1 [Hatter's vehicle] continued north for a short distance, made a U-turn and began traveling south on GA 75," Hedden wrote in an email Tuesday night. "The witness stated driver #1 [Hatter] slowed down and almost stopped to look at him. The witness stated that driver #1 then accelerated traveling south on GA 75, leaving the scene."
Hatter has been charged with failure to maintain lane, DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, serious injury by vehicle and driving with no headlights after sunset.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/12/741448/alto-man-charged-with-dui-other-offenses-in-crash-that-seriously-injures-pedestrian