A Grove Hill man accused of running down two pedestrians walking along U.S. Highway 43 near Mount Vernon has been ordered into a drug and alcohol treatment program as a condition of his bond while his criminal case moves forward.
The 44-year-old defendant faces manslaughter, assault and two drug-related charges stemming from a June 18 crash that left one man dead and another hospitalized. A Mobile County district judge added the special bond conditions on a Monday hearing, barring the defendant from driving at all until he completes his treatment program.
According to investigators, the driver was behind the wheel of his pickup truck traveling about three miles south of Mount Vernon when he left the roadway and struck two men on foot. One victim, a 52-year-old man, was killed in the crash, while a 20-year-old victim was taken to a hospital in Mobile for treatment. Authorities said the driver was impaired by drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.
The defendant remains free on a combined bond of $13,000 and has since enrolled in a substance abuse treatment facility in Brewton. Under the terms set by the court, he must successfully complete that program, remain free of drugs and alcohol, and submit to random testing in order to stay out of jail while the case proceeds. The judge overseeing the case indicated that substance abuse issues appeared to be a central factor in the case.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including first-degree assault, manslaughter, driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance. A preliminary hearing in the case has been scheduled for mid-August.
The crash renewed concerns among area residents about pedestrian safety along Highway 43, a busy corridor connecting Mount Vernon and surrounding communities in north Mobile County, where foot traffic along the shoulder is common but sidewalks and lighting remain limited in many stretches.