Austin,TX : Friends remember blogger killed by alleged drunk driver in downtown Austin early morning around 1:15 am at Interstate 35 northbound service road on April 26th 2014

Friends of a popular Austin blogger are calling for change after Kelly Wayne Noel was hit and killed by a suspected drunk driver in downtown Austin early Saturday morning.

The crash happened around 1:15 a.m. at the intersection of 7th Street and and the Interstate 35 northbound service road.

According to an arrest affidavit, 40-year-old Wade Atwood was pulling out of the Wendy's parking lot in the 700 block of I-35. The affidavit says Atwood was driving in the left lane of the northbound service road when 32-year-old Kelly Wayne Noel stepped off the sidewalk in front of Atwood's car.

Police say Atwood stopped after hitting Noel and was arrested for DWI. Police determined that Atwood's blood alcohol content was .102. The legal limit is .08.

Noel was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he later died.

Noel ran the popular Austin blog, ATX Hipsters and the online community is mourning his death. He had nearly 19,000 Twitter followers. His friends say he loved listening to live music and supported local artists.

"If you were a food blogger, if you were a music writer or a fashion blogger, he supported you because you were doing it for Austin. That’s his main thing," said friend, DJ and photographer Miguel Angel.
His partner, Josue Robles, says Noel hated drunk driving and would allow friends to sleep on his couch so they wouldn't pose a danger. They lived near 11th Street and I-35, not far from where Noel was hit and killed as he walked home.

"I met him on eventh street, he died on seventh street, and seventh street is where it all started out for him," said Robles. "I’m happy as least his spirit is downtown and that’s what he loved."

Friends are calling for the City of Austin to make downtown less dangerous, saying there needs to be more cabs on busy nights and more public transportation options to cut down on drunk driving Shortly after the fatal accident Saturday morning, another suspected drunk driver drove through the blocked-off roadway as police and emergency officials investigated. The roadway was closed and had several flares, a police car blocking the road and an officer directing traffic. Police say 35-year-old Ramiro Sosa drove into the crime scene, nearly hitting several officers. He was arrested and charged with DWI and marijuana possession.

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Friends remember blogger killed by alleged drunk driver