Oklahoma man in trial after allegedly hitting and killing a father while driving drunk
MCCLAIN COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) — Trial is underway for an Oklahoma man accused of hitting and killing a father while on a run with his son.
Bradley Hodson was back in court on Thursday for day three of his trial.
He is facing a first-degree manslaughter charge from 2020 after prosecutors said he was speeding and drunk driving in a Newcastle neighborhood on Veterans Day, hitting William Dupler while he was out running with his son.
Friends of Dupler said this has been a long time coming.
"It is just really hard on everybody because we've been waiting so long for this to happen," said Logan Matlock, a family friend of Dupler. "He was a great guy. Real nice, real funny and I know he was a great dad. He would do anything for his family."
In court, Dupler's now 15-year-old son and the only witness on the night of the deadly crash took the stand to testify.
He told the jury that his dad spotted Hodson's jeep "speeding" down the road in their direction.
That's when Dupler attempted to wave Hodson down but instead was hit and killed.
Dupler's son also told the jury he was never questioned by Newcastle police officers about what happened.
"This week has been very stressful. It's been a really long time coming," said Matlock.
Court documents say Hodson told police he had been speeding in the neighborhood and that he had been drinking at dinner one hour before getting behind the wheel.
Hodson's attorney argued that the state doesn't have enough proof and blamed the victim's clothing, as well as claiming Dupler was in the middle of the street as Hodson was driving down the road.
Hodson's attorney called what happened an "accident."
However, family friends of Dupler said they want justice served.
"A guilty verdict and that way we can get past this and move forward from these past four years with, yes, some grief still, but it's going to be a new chapter," said Matlock.
While waiting for the trial, Hodson was arrested for violating his bond conditions.
Court records said he was pulled over for speeding and buying liquor.