John A. Williams, 25, (date of birth 10/17/1999) is charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication, three counts of reckless endangerment, and three counts of vehicular assault after striking four pedestrians just after midnight Friday on the sidewalk at 4th Avenue North and Commerce Street, fatally injuring Leroy Wienke, 66, of Westfield, Wisconsin.
Williams was driving his 2017 Mercedes C30 at a high rate of speed eastbound on Commerce Street. As he crossed over 4th Avenue North, he swerved to the right to avoid a vehicle that was stopped on Commerce Street. The Mercedes then traveled over the curb and onto the sidewalk where the four pedestrians, Wienke, his wife, brother-in-law, and sister-in law, were struck. The Mercedes then swerved back towards the roadway where it collided with a parked Ford Explorer. The Mercedes came to final rest in the middle of Commerce Street.
Wienke was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died. His wife and sister-in-law were also taken to Vanderbilt with non-life threatening injuries. Williams’ front seat passenger also sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Responding officers detected a strong odor of alcohol when speaking to Williams who had slurred speech, red, bloodshot, watery eyes, and was unsteady on his feet. There was also an obvious odor of marijuana inside the Mercedes. Williams remains jailed on $105,000 bond.
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John A. Williams, 25