Driver was under influence of marijuana before fatal J.R. Allen crash, police say

Almost five hours after a pedestrian was struck and killed Tuesday on J.R. Allen Parkway at Veterans Parkway, Columbus police said the driver was under the influence of marijuana while driving.

Justin Kyle Bolin, 35, was taken into custody at 5:18 a.m. at the scene after 32-year-old Richard Lamb was struck about 12:20 a.m. Lamb was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m. at Piedmont Columbus Regional midtown campus of blunt-force injuries including a skull fracture, said Muscogee County Chief Deputy Coroner Freeman Worley.

Bolin faces one count each of homicide by vehicle, obstruction of law enforcement, possession of marijuana, abandonment of controlled substance, driving under the influence and tampering with evidence in connection with the crash. He is held without bond in the Muscogee County Jail on the homicide charge for a 9 a.m. Thursday hearing in Recorder’s Court.

Few details have been released by police in the crash. Authorities said 4.5 grams of marijuana was found in the woodline beside the 1997 Jeep Wrangler driven by Bolin. The drug had a street value of $45.

The crash in the westbound lane of J.R. Allen Parkway remains under investigation by the Columbus Police Department along with blood tests conducted on Lamb by the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office.

This story was originally published November 14, 2018 at 11:02 AM.