Accused drunk driver runs Kennewick stop sign, seriously hurting a grandmother
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- Victor Chavez-Cortes allegedly ran a stop sign and T-boned a Ford F-150.
- Crash left a 55-year-old grandmother with spinal fractures; two kids injured.
- Police suspect alcohol; Chavez-Cortes declined breath test, blood sample taken.
A suspected drunk driver is facing vehicular assault charges after driving through a stop sign and T-boning a pickup truck, severely injuring a woman.
The 55-year-old grandmother suffered spinal fractures after her Ford F-150 was slammed into at Rainier Street and Fifth Avenue in Kennewick on Friday, Sept. 12, show court records.
Two of her grandchildren — a 2-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl — were riding in the backseat and had minor injuries.
Victor Chavez-Cortes, 23, was driving his pickup about 20 mph over the 25-mph speed limit on Fifth Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, court documents said.
He told investigators that he missed the stop sign at Rainier Street, hit the pickup and then his truck hit a tree.
After the crash, witnesses claim they saw him trying to get rid of empty alcoholic beverage containers, court documents said.
The unconscious grandmother was taken to Trios Southridge Hospital. Staff told investigators that she suffered spinal injuries.
Chavez-Cortes told investigators he had just gotten off work at McDonald’s, and had a Mexican drink called a michelada made with beer, lime and spices about 7 p.m, court documents said.
One officer said Chavez-Cortes smelled of alcohol and allegedly failed to complete field sobriety tests.
After he declined to take a breath test, a blood sample was taken with court order.
Chavez-Cortes was booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of vehicular assault. Bail is set at $75,000.