Drunk driver sentenced for hitting, killing Munfordville man in Hardin Co.

A man who killed a 71-year-old man in Hardin County in a DUI incident has been sentenced.

Matthew R. Bush, 35, of Hodgenville, pled guilty in November 2025 to vehicular homicide, his second DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. He was initially charged with murder in the case.

In a plea deal, Bush was formally sentenced last week to 17 years in prison, according to a report by The News-Enterprise. He won’t be eligible for parole until serving 85 percent of the sentence.

As K105 previously reported, Bush, while driving a 1993 Chevrolet truck north on North Walnut Street in Upton, struck and killed a pedestrian, James Alvin Hawk, of Munfordville, on July 31, 2024, at approximately 11:50 a.m.

Hawk was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Hardin County Coroner’s Office.

Bush, after hitting Hawk, fled the area south on Hwy 31-W (Dixie Hwy).

Surveillance video was obtained by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and showed the truck hitting Hawk. Soon after, police received information that Bush had traveled to Horse Cave and was hiding from deputies behind a barn on Hwy 31-W.

Police, including the Hardin and Hart County Sheriff’s Offices, found and arrested the suspect. Law enforcement, during the investigation, discovered multiple open alcohol containers, presumably in Bush’s truck.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com