17 Year Old Arrested for DUI in Crash that Killed his Brother

A teenager has been arrested on the charge of DUI death and serious injury after being the alleged driver in a Memorial Day weekend crash that resulted in the death of his 24-year-old brother.

Joshua Waltman was driving a 1992 Chevrolet single-cab pickup truck carrying his brother, Joseph Waltman, and their father, Brad Waltman early on Sunday morning.  Officials say that Joshua Waltman over-corrected the truck causing it to swerve across traffic and hit several trees on the left side of the northbound lane of Mississippi 613.

According to Mississippi Highway Patrol Collusion Reconstructionist Roy Jacobsen, Joseph Waltman died at the scene and Brad Waltman was airlifted to the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile.  Jacobson reported that no one was wearing a seatbelt in the car and that alcohol was involved.

On Tuesday afternoon, a hospital representative said Brad Waltman, 44, of Lucedale, was in fair condition on a regular floor in the hospital despite suffering from serious injuries.

Joshua Waltman, 17, is currently being held under a $10,000 bond and suffered no injuries in the crash.

This was one of three fatalities investigated by the Mississippi Highway Patrol over Memorial Day weekend.  In each instance seat belts were not being worn.  Last year there were no fatalities investigated by Highway Patrol during the Memorial day holiday weekend; in 2011, there were nine.