Driver Charged With DUI After Fatal Pedestrian Accident

September 21, 2018

An Escambia County man was charged with DUI after a fatal pedestrian accident Thursday night.

The Florida Highway Patrol said 25-year old Tyler Allen Simpson was traveling north on Blue Angel Parkway just before 10 p.m. when a pedestrian ran into the road in front of him. Simpson struck the pedestrian with his Honda CRV. The pedestrian was then hit by a second vehicle driven by 40-year old Tony Darnell Johnson.

Simpson and Johnson were not injured.

The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene. His name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

Simpson was charged with DUI, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.  He was released from jail on a $2,500 bond.

Comments

18 Responses to “Driver Charged With DUI After Fatal Pedestrian Accident”

  1. WORRIED RESIDENT on September 25th, 2018 11:45 pm

    Wouldn’t this be manslaughter. A person died, while in the commission of another crime (DUI)?

  2. Carla pacetti on September 21st, 2018 10:21 pm

    This was my cousin!
    RIP my sweetness

  3. BG on September 21st, 2018 8:52 pm

    Don’t blame the pedestrians…..Sure they need to wear white at night..but
    Blame the DRUNKS ….Make better laws

  4. Dan on September 21st, 2018 8:45 pm

    The article never states that he was charged with the death. So that’s why what’s he bond is so low. Is the investigation ongoing?

  5. Kyle on September 21st, 2018 7:34 pm

    Well the new breathalisers the dui people get installed have a camera installed to prevent someone else from blowing for them..people make there own choices in life .

  6. William 2 on September 21st, 2018 7:30 pm

    DUI doesn’t mean it is always due to alcohol, he had marijuana on him, he could be charged with DUI because he smoked a joint. Benadryl can cause you to be arrested for DUI.

  7. Grand Locust on September 21st, 2018 5:11 pm

    How many families will face this tragedy before the alcohol and restaurant industries will stop lobbying against ignition interlocks? The new model cars are coming out with incredible safety features and star war capabilities, but a system installed in every OEM car sold new could save 10k lives a year and is fought tooth and nail because it would impact the profits of two industries. My prayers to the families. It will not get easier with time as you see more people dying because of impaired drivers, and more taxpayer money being spent on jails, police, and probation officers. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and think something will change.

  8. Anne on September 21st, 2018 3:53 pm

    DUI is in no way, OK.
    Pedestrians and bicycle riders for whatever reason seem to like wearing dark clothing and walking the sides of the road at night.
    I get it, not everyone can afford a vehicle and busses may not be available.
    Lighting on our roads is terrible, often no lights at all making it more difficult to see anything not immediately in your headlights.
    Had a guy doing yard work at my place a couple of years ago, he rode his bike because of a DUI. When he was ready to leave I gave him a white t-shirt to put over his dark one and told him to keep it handy when riding at night.
    Nope, cannot any more dictate what folks wear than we can dictate everyone to have good common sense.

  9. fisherman on September 21st, 2018 3:44 pm

    This individual would not be facing any charges if he had not been drinking. This accident shows you should NEVER!!!! drink and drive. Maybe this could have been avoided if it were not for his drinking but we will never know this. This individual has probably been drinking and driving for some time with friends and family knowing this but either didn’t want to or couldn’t stop him. He now has to live with knowing he killed someone while driving drunk.

  10. Just Sayin' on September 21st, 2018 3:44 pm

    The report states charged with DUI. He could have been high on the marijuana and driving “under the influence”. Alcohol might not have been the factor here. Do they make an interlock system for that? Just sayin’.

  11. chris on September 21st, 2018 2:29 pm

    @anne 1of2: So now the law will dictate what color clothing we wear? lol

  12. Sheryl on September 21st, 2018 2:28 pm

    Sad for all and you are only 25 who made a life changing decision to drink and drive, probably will not turn out well for this young man.

  13. A Alex on September 21st, 2018 1:52 pm

    Not the drunks fault if the guy ran out in front of him. Yes he was drunk but do you think being sober would have stopped the accident,NO. as far as the interlock system knew a guy that let his step daughter blow into his to drive

  14. nod on September 21st, 2018 1:08 pm

    he should not be drunk driving and I think all drunk drivers should be locked up for a long time. that being said we should not run out in front of traffic at 10 at night. it is dangerous. prayers to the families.

  15. bill on September 21st, 2018 12:48 pm

    if i read this correct a 2500 bond are you kidding me if what i saw was true he will never be convicted because he will be gone gone gone !!!!!!!!!!

  16. anne 1of2 on September 21st, 2018 12:12 pm

    Pedestrians are on the side of our roads at night and they are never wearing white. Now that should be a law. Not that I am ever on the side of a drunk driver, but I am tired of pedestrians appearing in the headlights once they are out in the roadway.

  17. tooma on September 21st, 2018 11:06 am

    Prison bound if convicted with all the toilet wine you want. Drunks are a scourge

  18. Johnny Rose on September 21st, 2018 11:00 am

    I wish all vehicles had an alcohol interlock system in them to prevent drunk driving. Nobody cares if you drink, just don’t drive !!!