The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
On the evening of November 26, in Spanish Fork, Utah, the “Spanish Fork Parade of Lights” was taking place. Several people were standing on the sides watching the event.
According to reports, around 7:30 PM, a car approached the barricade used to block off the street for the parade. Officers were present, and they tried to tell the driver that they could not pass through the barricade because of the event.
The man behind the wheel reportedly went around the barriers and drove past the police into the area where the parade and watchers were.
A man riding a horse was in the parade, and they were in the path of the vehicle as it entered the area. The car struck and injured the horse, and the rider fell off and hit the ground. It was reported that people viewing the parade had to dart out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.
The authorities were able to stop the man, and when they interacted with him, they believed he was intoxicated. He was given a breath test, and the results reportedly showed his blood-alcohol level to be .228. Utah law has a .05 cutoff, so the man’s BAC was nearly quadruple the legal limit.
The suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Utah County Jail. He is facing preliminary charges of reckless endangerment, negligence in a vehicle resulting in injury, failure to obey an officer, failure to stop at the command of law enforcement, failure to observe a barricade, driving under the influence, having an open container in a vehicle, driving without a valid license, and resisting or obstructing an arrest.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.