Hueytown, Alabama – A tragic hit-and-run incident in Hueytown, Alabama, has left the community in shock as a 70-year-old man faces charges of murder in connection with the death of an 18-year-old teenager. Walter Lee Ellison, hailing from Fairfield, is also charged with DUI and fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death. The victim, identified as Gabriel Demor Edwards, lost his life in the crash that took place on a Tuesday.
Following the fatal incident, Hueytown police authorities revealed additional details regarding Edwards’ untimely death and the circumstances leading to the charges against Ellison. At around 12:08 a.m. on Tuesday, a patrol officer noticed a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road near the intersection of Allison Bonnett Memorial Drive and Brooklane Drive. The vehicle, a Ford F-150 driven by Ellison, was promptly stopped by the officer. Subsequently, Ellison was taken into custody for DUI and detained in the Hueytown City Jail.
Upon inspecting Ellison’s vehicle, officers observed fresh damage to the front, prompting a search of the surrounding area, which yielded no matching results. Later that morning, at approximately 6:15 a.m., officers responded to a call reporting a person down near the intersection of Hueytown Road and Walker Avenue. It was then that Edwards’ lifeless body was discovered near the road, surrounded by various car parts.
Further investigation led authorities to conclude that Edwards was walking north on Hueytown Road when he was struck by a vehicle traveling in the same direction, resulting in his tragic demise. Evidence found at the scene implicates the green Ford F-150 from Ellison’s earlier DUI arrest as the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run incident that claimed Edwards’ life. The timeline of events suggests that Edwards was struck at around 11:30 p.m., approximately 30 minutes before Ellison was apprehended.
Ellison remains in custody, awaiting transfer to the Jefferson County Jail, where he will be held without bond. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the devastating impact of reckless driving behavior on individuals and communities, urging for heightened awareness and caution on the road to prevent such tragedies from reoccurring in the future.