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Kent city employee accused of hitting and killing pedestrian while driving drunk pleads not guilty

KENT, Wash. — A Kent city employee accused of hitting and killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in his work truck pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday.

The court appearance for 37-year-old Nicholas Browning Slater came nearly a month after the deadly crash took the life of a 73-year-old man who was trying to cross the road at 108th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 204th Street.

The victim was later identified by the King County Medical Examiner's Office as Alan Kern.

Slater took a portable breath test and investigators said his blood alcohol level was .344, which is four times the legal limit of 0.08 in Washington state.

Slater told police he was so drunk he doesn't remember hitting the man, according to court documents.

At Slater’s prior bail hearing, it was revealed he was convicted of DUI in 2009 but had passed the city’s background check.

Slater remains in custody on a $150,000 bond and his next court date is scheduled for late March.

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