A 22-year-old female has been arrested in connection with a fatal, alcohol-related collision involving a pedestrian that occurred at midnight on Bluff Road.
Courtney Cook (DOB: 8-16-1996) was arrested shortly after the incident by Columbia Police Department (CPD) officers and charged with Felony DUI Involving Death.
Cook was allegedly driving a 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander when she collided with a 76-year-old man causing fatal injuries at the 900 block of Bluff Road.
The victim has been identified by Richland County Coroner Gary Watts as John David Bowen. EMS pronounced him deceased on scene. An autopsy indicated that the cause of death was due to blunt head trauma.
The preliminary investigation conducted by the CPD Traffic Safety Unit (TSU) indicates that Cook was traveling eastbound on Bluff Road when she allegedly struck Bowen who was walking in the roadway. Cook has not appeared in bond court yet.
All persons arrested/charged are presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.