Man in wheelchair hit, killed

By Matthew Penix
St. Tammany News
Published on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8:43 AM CDT

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A Slidell woman hit and killed a 53-year-old man in a wheelchair outside his home Monday afternoon, Sheriff’s Office Capt. George Bonnett said.

Kimberlin Edwards, 40, of 38025 Pearl River St., was charged with vehicular homicide after she ran into Roland Withers, who was sitting in his wheelchair on the grassy median of Donya Drive.

Withers, who used a wheelchair because he lost his leg in a previous accident, died at the scene, authorities said.

Edwards’ blood alcohol level registered .095, just higher than the legal limit of .08, Bonnett said. She was also charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless operation and open container violation. As of mid morning Tuesday, she was in the St. Tammany Parish Jail in lieu of a $251,750 bond. She faces between five and 30 years in jail and up to $15,000 in fines, if convicted.

Authorities were surprised Edwards and an unidentified passenger weren’t seriously injured. After she hit Withers she overcompensated and veered left, hit a ditch and flipped, Bonnett said.

Edwards and the friend crawled out of the white Buick Rendezvous.

Responding Sheriff’s Office deputies found them “dazed and wandering around the street,” Bonnett said.

Both were eventually transported to Slidell Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Forensic accident experts are reconstructing the wreck to determine how fast Edwards was driving, Bonnett added.

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