Michael Berry, the former Houston city councilman and current host of a conservative radio show, will not be charged with hit and run in connection with a Jan. 31 car accident, multiple sources said on May 1. It appears that authorities could not gather enough evidence that Berry knowingly struck another vehicle and drove off that night as he left a local gay bar.

As we reported in our Feb. 21 blog post, a car was involved in a minor car accident at the bar on Jan. 31. A bouncer at the bar took down the car's license plate, and an investigation traced the vehicle to Berry. Surveillance footage from inside the bar showed that Berry was there prior to the accident.

However, according to Berry's attorney, authorities had to show that he realized that he had hit another car and drove off anyway. While that may be easier to prove in serious collisions where someone may have gotten injured, a fairly minor accident like this one may have presented prosecutors with problems. Another possible stumbling block is that police have not been able to contact the bouncer to question him.

That seems to have culminated in a decision by Houston authorities not to charge Berry. Both his attorney and an anonymous source say Berry will not be charged, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Hit and run accidents can aggravate any injuries suffered by the people left behind because often the other driver is the first or only witness who can contact emergency medical personnel. If that person flees the scene, the victims may not receive medical attention as quickly.

Source: Houston Chronicle, "Talk show host Michael Berry won't be charged in Montrose hit-and-run," James Pinkerton, May 1, 2012