HOT SPRINGS -- A Hot Springs man was charged with negligent homicide Thursday after his vehicle struck a 77-year-old pedestrian in a crosswalk the previous night on Central Avenue, according to a Hot Springs Police Department report.
The victim, William Baker of Malvern, was reportedly in the crosswalk between the Crosswalk Bar and Oaklawn Park shortly before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Baker was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs with severe injuries and later died.
James Lee Goff, 27, who listed a Sonnet Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday on charges of driving while intoxicated and violation of pedestrians' right of way in crosswalks, according to the report.
When asked after the accident whether he had been drinking, Goff said he had a "couple of beers earlier," according to the report.
Police administered a portable breath test on Goff and found his blood-alcohol content to be 0.364, more than four times the legal limit of 0.08, according to the report. Goff was then placed into custody. A second blood-alcohol test was administered at the Garland County jail, with a result of 0.318.
Baker was pronounced dead at 12:30 a.m. Thursday from injuries related to the accident. Goff subsequently was charged with the felony negligent homicide count, according to the report.
Metro on 08/23/2015