Louisville woman killed in DUI hit-and-run crash, suspect held on $100k bond, police say

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police said a man was four times over the legal limit when he hit and killed a Louisville mother.

Michael Dahl, 37, is facing several charges, including murder, leaving the scene of an accident, and DUI.

According to an arrest citation, the hit-and-run happened just after 9 p.m. Saturday in the 7700 block of the Outer Loop. That's in Highview, not far from South Watterson Trail and Fegenbush Lane. Police said Dahl was headed east on the Outer Loop when his vehicle ran off the south side of the road and hit a pedestrian.

Crystal Daniel, 45, was taken to University of Louisville Hospital in critical condition. The Louisville woman later died there. Coworkers said Daniel was walking to work at Hi-View Liquors when she was hit.

"She would walk to work every day when she would come and she was on her way to work that day," said Kenneth Burks, a coworker.

A witness is cited in an arrest report saying Dahl fled the scene "at a high rate of speed." The same witness captured the hit-and-run on a dash camera, and was able to get Dahl's registration plate numbers as he fled the scene.

"When I first saw the police cars out here, I thought something had to happen here at the store, but then when I saw cars were still going in and out, driving through, I said something else must have happened, I thought it was an accident," Burks said.

A short time later, police said Dahl's vehicle was involved in another crash in the 8300 block of Johnson School Road. That's off Beulah Church Road, less than three miles away from the fatal hit-and-run.

Police said Dahl ran off the road and hit a tree head-on. Once at that scene, police found Dahl slumped over inside the vehicle.

He was taken to University Hospital with minor injuries. A search warrant was obtained for blood samples and medical records from the hospital's lab, according to the arrest slip. His toxicology report showed a B.A.C. of .342, which is more than four times the legal limit.

Det. Darell Wagner, with the Louisville Metro Police Department's Traffic Unit, said it's important to call 911 if you suspect another driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

"The big thing we have to do is say something call 911, let us get in contact with that individual," Wagner said Tuesday. "Let us intercept that individual before these events take place."

Coworkers of Daniel are collecting donations to help her family.

Dahl is being held on a $100,000 cash bond at Metro Corrections in downtown Louisville.

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