A Lakeland man who fled the scene of a crash early on Sunday morning after killing a 16-year-old teen, is now behind bars.
29-year-old Christopher A. Koenig, of Byrds Crossing Drive in Lakeland, was taken into custody at his home yesterday, Polk County deputies say.
Investigators also say, Koenig left the Paddy Wagon Irish Pub in Lakeland, just after 1:30 a.m., with a friend and was traveling eastbound on County Road 540-A, when the 2012 Ford F-150 truck he was driving struck Blake Dowdy, 16, as he and a friend walked westbound along the southern shoulder. Dowdy was thrown about 87 feet into the drainage ditch south of the roadway. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Koenig did not slow down, brake or stop, after hitting Dowdy, eye witnesses say, but fled the scene, investigators reported. About 40 minutes later, Koenig called 911 to say he had hit someone with his truck. He also told the dispatcher that he had been drinking at the bar.
Deputies responded to Koenig’s home where he was arrested. He has been charged with one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and one count of DUI causing death. Koenig was booked into the Polk County Jail.
Reacting to Koenig’s arrest, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said:
“Christopher Koenig has taken the life of a teenaged boy because he refused to take a cab or get a ride home from the bar. Now he will have to suffer the consequences, and the Dowdy family will forever suffer from a tremendous loss. I can’t stress this enough: DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. The damage that you cause when you do is irreparable, and lasts a lifetime.”
