There's a difference between actively choosing to kill an animal, and having an animal die as a consequence of another action.
Driving a car means that you'll inevitably hit an animal at some point, but the alternative (walking) is often impractical and you'll still try your best and stop or swerve when a cat runs into the road.
Eating meat, on the other hand, is an active choice that always involves someone killing an animal. The alternative is always there and is as easy as can be: eat something else.
But you have to respect other people lines as well.
Your personal freedom stops where someone else's freedom begins. The question is whether you consider animals to be someone or something.