Linn man accused of hitting pedestrian at 50 mph while drunk in Jefferson City

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Linn man has been charged with a felony after he is accused of hitting a pedestrian at a high speed while he was drunk.

Jesse Hollandworth, 47, was charged with felony driving while intoxicated and two misdemeanors: Reckless driving and not having vehicle insurance. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond.

The probable cause statement says that Jefferson City police were called to Highway 179 near Merchants Drive for a crash at 12:50 a.m. Thursday. Hollandworth was the only person in a Nissan Altima and allegedly hit a pedestrian who was walking on the west shoulder, court documents say.

The Nissan was going 45-50 miles per hour, according to court documents. The victim was brought to University Hospital with serious injuries, but is considered stable, the statement says.

Police wrote that Hollandworth was “visibly intoxicated” and was distraught at the scene because he thought he had killed the pedestrian when he called EMS, the statement says. Hollandworth allegedly admitted to drinking four beers at Chick’s Bar on Industrial Drive from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. and had an additional beer about an hour before at Ecco Lounge, where he works, the statement says.

Police had Hollandworth take a breath test and his blood alchohol level was .165, more than twice the legal limit to drive, the statement says.