Blood tests from a spring vehicular manslaughter case have confirmed that alcohol was involved in the March death of a pedestrian.
- Morgan Donald Hill struck in downtown St. Pete in March
- Hill, 48, died a week later from his injuries
- Police charged Souvanna Thongdara with DUI vehicular manslaughter
According to St. Petersburg Police, Souvanna Thongdara, 39, was driving in downtown St. Petersburg on March 18 when he struck Morgan Donald Hill, 48, who was crossing the street at Central Avenue and 3rd Street. Thongdara reportedly fled the scene but only made it a few blocks before police caught up with him.
Hill, who police say was homeless, died from his injuries March 25 while being treated at Bayfront Health.
Traffic homicide investigators said they recently received results of a toxicology report on Thongdara's blood drawn the night of the crash. Thongdara's blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.217, investigators said. The legal limit is 0.07.
Police said Thongdara turned himself into the Pinellas County Jail on May 30 at about 5:30 p.m. He faces DUI manslaughter charges.