Man with history of DUIs ‘smelled strongly of alcohol’ in Tuscaloosa crashes that killed pedestrian, police say

Man with history of DUIs ‘smelled strongly of alcohol’ in Tuscaloosa crashes that killed pedestrian, police say

A 37-year-old man is behind bars following a deadly DUI crash in Tuscaloosa.

Courtney Terrell Harris is charged with manslaughter, felony leaving the scene of an accident and DUI, Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy announced Tuesday.

On Sunday, Kennedy said, Tuscaloosa police responded at 12:13 a.m. to a crash at 12th Avenue James I. Harrison Parkway.

Harris, he said, had wrecked, then crashed into a second vehicle and then struck a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, 65-year-old Samuel Crispin, was taken to the hospital where he died several hours later.

Harris fled the crash scene on foot and was later taken into custody by police while he was walking.

“Harris smelled strongly of alcohol when he was detained,’’ Kennedy said.

Kennedy said Harris had an outstanding warrant for felony DUI at the time of the deadly crash. A charge of felony DUI requires at least three prior convictions for DUI.

Court records indicate all of those previous DUIs took place in the past 10 years.

Harris was placed in jail with bond to be set by the courts.