Police: Drivers Crash Into Intoxicated Pedestrians
Number Of Liquor Stores In Area Contribute To Problem, Police Say
POSTED: 4:13 pm CST February 27,
2008
UPDATED: 10:43 pm CST February 27,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Some Nashville drivers are getting involved in crashes with intoxicated pedestrians on a certain stretch of road in east Nashville.
Video: Drivers Running Over Intoxicated Pedestrians, Police SayTaxi driver Oliver Jackson comes in contact with pedestrians everyday, but he actually hit one with his car two months ago."All of a sudden, 'Bam!' Where did he come from?" said taxi driver Oliver Jackson.Jackson is among the drivers involved in similar accidents on the stretch of Main Street in east Nashville. They've all hit pedestrians whom they never saw coming."This shook me up more than I would say when I was in Vietnam. I was shook up," said Jackson.Why is this problem affecting this certain stretch of road? Police said there are two reasons.There are a number of liquor stores along the street while on the other side is a number of bus stops, an agency that helps the homeless and low-income housing. All of the businesses are separated by four wide lanes of traffic and no crosswalks."I don't know of sober people stepping out in front of cars," said Sgt. Dan Ogren of the Metro Police Department.While Channel 4 was shooting video for this story, WSMV saw a man walk across four lanes of traffic with alcohol in hand and cars approaching. A few minutes later, he stepped backwards into traffic.The accident reports show intoxicated individuals who are injured and have to be rushed to hospitals, leaving behind equally shaken drivers."I got out and asked the guy, 'Are you OK?' Say something, move, saying something,'" said Jackson."It really affects their quality of life," said Ogren.Police said the most they can do about the situation is write citations for public intoxication.
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