Man charged with murder in July fatal hit-and-run on Bardstown Road

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB+WAVE) — A man was arrested Saturday in connection with a fatal hit-and-run on Bardstown Road in July after police found him parked in the middle of the road and slumped over his steering wheel Saturday.

Gerson Alvarado Arrivillaga was charged with driving under the influence and driving with open alcohol containers.

Louisville Metro Police Department said officers responded to Shepherdsville Road and Rural Way after someone reported that a car was parked in the middle of the road.

When officers arrived, they said they found Arrivillaga slumped over his steering wheel.

According to police, he was not able to respond to officers and his speech was slurred. Police also said Arrivillaga had a white substance on his nose.

During the preliminary investigation, police were able to connect Arrivillaga to the fatal hit-and-run crash that happened in July, charging him with murder, fleeing the scene of an accident and four counts of wanton endangerment.

On July 5, LMPD said officers responded to a pedestrian crash around 1:30 a.m. where a person was hit by a vehicle near the intersection of Bardstown Road and South Watterson Trail.

Police said an unoccupied vehicle was stopped in the left lane of Bardstown Road just north of Watterson Trail after being involved in a separate collision.

According to LMPD, the person police believed was driving the parked vehicle had been standing beside their car near a concrete median.

A vehicle traveling southbound on Bardstown Road in the northbound lanes crashed into the man. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, failing to stop and render aid.

Police said the man was taken to UofL Hospital, where he later died.

“It’s just a general lack of empathy. I have people that I’ve known that have died that way,” said Rebekah Flowers.

“That’s why a lot of people don’t come out on Bardstown Road after 5 or 6 o’clock because it’s dark, people aren’t looking,” Flowers said.

Arrivillaga, 27, is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Monday, Oct. 26.