Two people were killed Wednesday afternoon in a crash on North Moore Road that led to homicide and DUI charges against a 28-year-old man, officials said.
The Chattanooga Police Department said a male driver, 54, and a female passenger, 55, were in a Hyundai Tucson that turned left onto North Moore Road from Golfview Drive when an Infiniti QX60 traveling north struck the vehicle near the 600 block, pushing both cars into the southbound side of the road.
Both occupants of the Hyundai, Darrell Bostic and Tara Garth, were taken to a hospital, where they were declared dead, police said.
(SIGN UP: Get breaking news in your inbox as it happens by going to timesfreepress.com/breaking)
The Infiniti’s driver, Tai-Rique Floyd, was arrested and booked into the Hamilton County Jail on two counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, DUI and other traffic-related charges.
Witnesses told investigators that Floyd’s vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed and swerving around other vehicles in the wet road conditions, police said.
(READ MORE: Woman charged in August Motel 6 killing on Lee Highway)
According to a sworn law enforcement statement, an officer smelled a strong odor of intoxicant on Floyd and questioned him at the crash scene. Floyd told investigators he had a mimosa at around 9 a.m. and that he was heading home after finishing a food-delivery shift. Police noted Floyd was off about the current time by about an hour when he was asked.
The statement said Floyd agreed to perform field sobriety tests, including reciting the alphabet from E to W and counting backwards from 59 to 39. Police reported slowed speech and signs of intoxication when testing his eyes.
Due to injuries in the crash, police did not conduct walking-related tests, and a warrant was issued to test Floyd’s blood. The statement said the officer arrested Floyd based on the officer’s training, experience and the totality of the circumstances.
The arresting officer also found a pill bottle while searching Floyd’s vehicle, according to the sworn statement.
According to online Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office records, Floyd’s bond was set at $150,000.
Contact breaking news reporter Mason Edwards at medwards@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6409.