By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE — After a year and five months in jail, Destrehan resident Jerry Bellow, 34, was found guilty on Aug. 16 of DWI fifth offense, vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular negligent injuring and felony hit and run driving by a St. Charles Parish jury.

Bellow was arrested on March 27, 2004, after a witness identified a truck registered in Bellow’s name, as the cause of a fatal accident on US 61 near the Spillway Bridge, according to information provided by the office of District Attorney Harry J. Morel Jr. in St. Charles Parish.

Bellow suddenly pulled out from the Spillway Road into traffic on Hwy. 61 and barely avoided a collision with a vehicle driven by Juan Hernandez, 19, in the southbound left lane. Hernandez swerved and lost control of his vehicle and traveled across the center line and collided with a vehicle driven by Jimmy Poe.

Hernandez was killed as a result of the accident. Jimmy and Margaret Poe were seriously injured.

Bellow fled the scene and was taken into custody around two hours later, according to the DA’s office.

After the arrest, Bellow’s blood alcohol level was measure at .109 percent, which is over the legal limit of .08 percent. It was reported that Bellow’s blood alcohol level at the time of the accident was at .160 percent.

Bellow will be sentenced on Oct. 13.