Driver charged with 4th DUI after deadly Sale Creek crash Thursday afternoon
SALE CREEK, Tenn. — UPDATE (Monday):
An attorney for the injured man, Juan Rosario, confirmed that Eduardo "Lalo" Osorio was the man killed in the crash.
UPDATE (Friday):
A man now faces vehicular homicide charges in connection with a deadly wreck in Sale Creek Thursday afternoon, an affidavit shows.
That report says a blue Dodge truck driven by 31-year-old Colton Drake Clingan was heading south when he crossed into the northbound lanes, hitting a white work van head-on.
An ambulance rushed the driver of the van to the hospital, but the passenger in the van, later identified as Eduardo Osario, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Clingan told deputies that he "had been messing with his dog and realized he had drifted into the other lane and tried to correct," the affidavit said.
But authorities found no dog on the scene.
As an ambulance took Clingan to the hospital, first responders told officers that they suspected he was under the influence, because he had 'pinpoint pupils and no reaction to light.'
At the hospital, Clingan told investigators he had taken prescription Adderall and smoked marijuana at 9 that morning.
The officer who wrote the affidavit said he noticed Clingan had bloodshot eyes, and arrested him as he was leaving the hospital, charging him with DUI and vehicular homicide by intoxication.
The officer said he later learned Clingan had been charged with DUI 3 times in the past: in 2011, 2020 and 2022, and that he also had 'a significant drug history.'
The report says Clingan also had a suspended driver's license, no insurance on his vehicle and was supposed be using an alcohol interlock device. No such device was found in his vehicle.
The officer also says a witness called to report she saw Clingan "swerving in his lane" right before the crash.
Clingan is now charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, aggravated assault, ignition interlock violation, driving on a suspended license, driving left of center lane, failure to exercise due car, and seatbelt law violation.
Depend on us to keep you posted as we learn more.
EARLIER:
We're working to learn more about a crash that killed one person in Sale Creek in Hamilton County Thursday afternoon.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says the accident happened at about 2:30 p.m. near the 15840 block of Dayton Pike.
Authorities tweeted "Please use alternative routes as the roadway will be temporarily closed while HCSO Traffic Personnel conduct an investigation."
Right now, we still don't know the circumstances of the crash, how many vehicles were involved, or the identity of the person who was killed.
Depend on us to bring you more information as we get it.
