WFAA-TV

Police say Ellis Haywood failed a sobriety test.

DALLAS - A repeat drunk driver was behind the wheel of a crash that killed a little girl and her grandmother Saturday night, Dallas police said.

Carrying Taliyah Banks, her one-year-old granddaughter, Kimberly Robinson, 38, was returning to her Oak Cliff apartment when a car driven by a man police said was under the influence of alcohol crashed into them. A family member watched in horror as the out of control car crossed the curb and hit them both as they walked along Overton Road near Interstate 45.

Herbereisha Kennard, Robinson's daughter and Bank's mother, said the family had all shopped at a nearby convenience store shortly before the accident.

"We walked to the store like everyday," she said. "You never think something like this would happen ... I lost my momma. That's all I had, and my baby, and they're both gone."

Corderal Fry, Robinson's son, said the Ford Taurus nearly missed him as it jumped the curb and slammed into his mother and niece.

"I was patting on her, trying to wake her up and she wouldn't wake up," he said.

Beer cans littered the scene, and police said the driver of the Taurus, Ellis Haywood, failed a sobriety test. The 54-year-old industrial worker lived only a few blocks away.

Haywood's long-time girlfriend, who didn't want to disclose her name, defended Haywood's character.

"He's not a criminal person," she said. "... He's a good guy, no drugs, no nothing, I guess alcohol."

Robinson's family said they hold no rage for the suspect, but instead are in grief.

"This is a tragedy," said Rafell Collins, the victim's sister. "We lost not only person; we lost two people in our family ... I just can't believe my sister is gone."

Charged with two counts of manslaughter, Haywood remained in jail as of Sunday night. If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison.

E-mail jbetz@wfaa.com