Driver accused of fatal hit-and-run of pedestrian in Tacoma suspected of driving drunk
A 34-year-old man suspected of driving drunk, fatally striking a person crossing the street in Tacoma’s West End and then leaving the scene has been charged with vehicular homicide and other offenses.
Anthony Thomas Albers was charged Monday in Pierce County Superior Court with DUI vehicular homicide, failure to remain at an accident resulting in death and reckless driving for the Nov. 27 incident at South 12th and Vassault streets. The man killed has not been publicly identified.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Albers’ behalf at arraignment Monday afternoon. Judge Stanley Rumbaugh ordered Albers held in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail.
According to court records, the defendant has no prior felony convictions. Albers was convicted of reckless driving in Pierce County District Court in 2010. A defense attorney for Albers was not listed in court records.
Tacoma Police Department officers responded at about 6:49 p.m. for a report of a person down. While on the way, dispatchers advised officers that a witness saw a green compact pickup truck strike a pedestrian and flee.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by fire department personnel. Officers noted he had a head injury.
A witness told police he saw the pickup traveling south on Pearl Street at a high speed before the driver turned west on South 12th Street, according to charging documents. The witness said the driver continued to speed and said he believed the vehicle was possibly going 70 mph.
The witness reportedly told police that while he was behind the pickup, it was clear to him that the driver was intoxicated. As the vehicle approached South Whitman Street, he saw the pickup collide with the victim, who went airborne. The driver continued west on South 12th Street.
According to charging documents, the witness followed Albers to get his license plate and then called 911. A police officer found the vehicle Albers is suspected to have been driving parked at a house less than a mile from the crash scene. Records state it had considerable front-end damage. Its rear license plate was also bent so it was unreadable.
Officers first contacted Albers’ girlfriend at the home, who reportedly said Albers had been there 10 minutes ago and had gone to a friend’s house. The girlfriend called Albers and told him the police were there. Albers arrived at the house with his father some time later.
Police reported that Albers appeared obviously intoxicated and an officer smelled alcohol on his breath.
Albers allegedly told police he saw a bad accident in front of him and went around it, stating that he saw two cars collide in front of him. Officers then detained him in a patrol vehicle.
Police spoke with Albers again after talking with his father. The defendant allegedly said he was confused because he drove around an accident, stopped there for a second and then thought he would come home, get his father and then return to see what was going on.
The officer reported that Albers then changed his story, stating “he didn’t think” he was involved in the accident. The officer confronted him about the conflicting statements, and Albers allegedly said he drove past and something smacked his truck.
Police questioned how much Albers had to drink, and he allegedly said he didn’t have anything until he went to his friend’s house, where he said he had three shots of vodka.
Officers then went to the friend’s house and reported that they didn’t see any visible liquor. A man who was at the residence reportedly told the officers Albers had one beer at the house. Officers asked if Albers drank any tequila or vodka at the house, and the man reportedly said “not over here.”
