METHUEN — Police said David Diaz of Lawrence was driving drunk when he struck and killed a 56-year-old jogger yesterday morning.
The victim, Lay Bou, of 102 Marble Ave., Lawrence, was running against the traffic toward Dracut when he was struck by a car at the 600 block of Lowell Street (Route 110) about 8:30 a.m.
Diaz , 23, of 23 Cornish St., Apt. 1, was driving east toward the rotary, said Methuen police patrol commander Capt. Randy Haggar.
Police said Bou was a regular jogger along the highway. He was pronounced dead in the emergency room at Lawrence General Hospital.
Diaz was arrested by Methuen police in the emergency room at Holy Family Hospital, where he was taken for treatment of minor injuries.
Steve O'Connell, spokesman for the Essex district attorney's office, said Diaz was charged with motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol and operating negligently, and a marked lanes violation.
O'Connell said the motor vehicle homicide charge is a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in state prison.
Haggar said at the scene yesterday morning that the department received a call reporting the accident at 8:25 a.m.
Officers found the victim suffering from massive head trauma and being treated by EMTs from an ambulance that came upon the scene moments later.
It appeared that after the impact, which caved in the passenger side of the windshield, the victim was thrown over the roof of the Acura Integra and landed on the rear window, smashing it, Haggar said.
Diaz then veered across the road and onto a dirt road adjacent to the Hickory Hill Golf Club office, stopped, turned around and then drove back onto Lowell Street, before stopping at the curb in the eastbound lane, police said.
O'Connell said Diaz would be arraigned on Monday in Lawrence District Court.
