Motorcyclist dies after hit by impaired driver

A man was killed after an impaired driver crashed into him in the 5500 block of Hixson Pike Friday morning. That driver is now in custody.

Phillip Hutton, 31, was riding his motorcycle northbound on Hixson Pike just after 8 a.m. when Harrison S. Rogers, 28, who was driving in the opposite direction, veered into his lane, according to a Chattanooga police news release.

Rogers collided with Hutton, throwing him from the motorcycle. Hutton was taken to a local hospital where he later died, the news release states.

Witnesses told investigators they saw Rogers driving erratically and veering into oncoming traffic. Invesigators also noticed Rogers showed signs of impairment.

He was taken to the Hamilton County Jail where his blood was drawn and tested, resulting in several charges, according to the news release.

Those charges include aggravated vehicular homicide, driving under the influence (third offense), reckless driving, driving on revoked license for DUI, driving left of center and implied consent.

Rogers has an extensive arrest history in Hamilton County dating back to 2007, according to Hamilton County Court and Times Free Press records.

His most notable charges include public intoxication in 2010 and again in 2012. In 2014 and 2016 he was arrested for driving under the influence.