(MOBILE COUNTY, Ala.) - A Milton, Florida woman was hit and killed overnight in Mobile County. The accident happened on Theodore Dawes Road near Helton Road just before 3 a.m. Thursday. Hillary Howard, 21, has been charged with manslaughter. Investigators believe alcohol played a role in the crash.
There's a lot damage on the white Pontiac Grand Am, investigators say, Howard was driving when she hit and killed forty-three year old Alison Collier. The windshield is busted, so it the front right head light, and there's body damage all down the side of the car.
"What we believe right now is that the victim was in a vehicle, stopped on or along the roadway, she got out of the vehicle and that's when she was struck," said Sgt. Joe Piggott. "The driver of the vehicle, we have reason to believe, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash."
"Why did troopers believe she was under the influence of alcohol?" asked Local 15's Andrea Ramey.
"Well, just interviewing her and talking to her, they were able to form an opinion to believe she was under the influence of alcohol," Piggott replied.
The crash happened in front of Earnestine Lundy's home. She says the accident isn't surprising. Lundy says there's a lot of foot traffic for such a busy road, and cars fly up and down it all the time.
"I'm sorry about it, but if we had known we'd tried to help," said Lundy.
Near the site of the crash pieces of a bracelet or necklace, perhaps from the victim, were scattered across Lundy's yard. There was also a small empty bottle of vodka State Troopers had marked with orange spray paint.
Local 15 News spoke with Howard's mother-in-law. She says Howard is extremely upset, and the family is in the process of hiring an attorney to represent her.
