– A Kalamazoo man accused of driving drunk when he struck and seriously injured a pedestrian in October this week pleaded guilty to operating under the influence and causing serious injury.

Jerrame Avery, 31, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the criminal charges in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court. He faces up to five years in prison and substantial fines when he is sentenced April 27.

Authorities said Avery was driving in downtown Kalamazoo at about 2 a.m. Oct. 27 when he struck a pedestrian at the intersection of South Rose and Academy streets. The pedestrian, 32-year-old Joseph Periard, suffered critical injuries that impacted him long-term.

Avery told authorities that Periard, who was walking in a designated pedestrian crosswalk, darted in front of his car and Avery was unable to stop in time to avoid a wreck. It’s unclear whether Avery also was injured in the crash.

Court documents state that Avery’s blood-alcohol concentration was 0.11%, which is above the 0.08% legal driving limit in Michigan. Prosecutors also accused of him of speaking on his phone and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle with him at the time of the crash.

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