A Palm Desert man believed to be driving under the influence was held responsible for an accident involving five cars that reportedly left one driver seriously injured. The allegedly intoxicated man also fled the scene after the initial incident occurred.
Just after 12:30 p.m. on Friday in Palm Desert five cars were involved in an accident that was allegedly caused by a man driving a Nissan Altima who is suspected of having been under the influence of alcohol and possibly drugs.
The Altima that the driver, later identified as 37-year-old Jeremy Tellez of Palm Desert, initially made impact with a Toyota Yaris and a Honda Civic in proximity of his vehicle. The driver of the Yaris hit the back end of a Toyota Highlander, and the Civic collided with an Ford F-150.
Tellez reportedly sustained slight injuries from the accident, and drivers of three of vehicles involved were not hurt at all. The driver of the Yaris was reported as suffering from severe injuries.
Palm Desert Police Department dispatched deputies to the scene, and Tellez ran away from the location.
While the deputies were examining the crash site and gathering information to determine what had taken place Tellez returned to the spot of the incident.
Officers determined that Tellez was acting in a manner that led them to believe he was impaired from alcohol and/or drugs and had been operating his vehicle while altered. They suspected he was the cause of the crash and he was taken into custody.
Tellez was booking into the Indio Jail and he is being held in lieu of $50,000 bond. He is expected to face one felony charge of DUI causing bodily injury, and one misdemeanor charge of hit-and-run with injury.
Tellez is scheduled to appear at the Indio Larson Justice Center on June 6 regarding the charges.
If you or someone you love is suspected of DUI, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.