Alleged Drunk Driver Crashes into Car, Severely Injures Woman
According to KXAN, a woman suffered severe head injuries after her vehicle was hit by a drunk driver in Austin, Texas, on Saturday night.
Driver Fled Scene, Found in Dumpster
The traumatic car accident occurred at the intersection of Johnny Morris Road and Giles Road at around 9:00 p.m. Edgar Orlando Camateco-Mercado, 22, was seen driving his SUV at high speeds without the headlights on prior to the wreck. Officials say he blew through a flashing red traffic light and slammed into another vehicle.
The impact of the crash sent Camateco-Mercado’s SUV into a car sitting at the red light, reports KXAN. Witnesses say the man immediately took off from the scene on foot, hiding beer bottles as he ran down a service road. Officers located the man in a nearby dumpster.
The driver of the other SUV was severely injured in the crash, reports KXAN. Currently, she is still unable to breathe on her own and has swelling of the brain. Officials say it is possible she won’t survive the ordeal.
Camateco-Mercado is being held on a $1 million bond and faces charges of failure to stop and render aid and intoxication assault. According to KXAN, police also found meth and marijuana inside his vehicle. Two passengers in his SUV told police they met with him to buy marijuana.
Information on Drunk Driving Crashes
The following information regarding impaired driving is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- In 2014, 9,967 people died in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States.
- Alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities decreased by 1.4 percent from 2013 to 2014.
- Alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities have accounted for 30 to 32 percent of all crash fatalities since 1995.
- Over 1.1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics in 2014 (CDC).
