20-year-old arrested for suspected DUI after officers find pickup smashed into tree

Officers find a tan Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck smashed into a tree on South 100 East near TJ Maxx and Home Goods, St. George, Utah, Nov. 21, 2021 | Photo by Shane Brinkerhoff, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A driver was arrested Sunday morning after reportedly failing a field sobriety test that was administered by officers responding to a crash just west of River Road.

Officers find a tan Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck smashed into a tree on South 100 East near TJ Maxx and Home Goods, St. George, Utah, Nov. 21, 2021 | Photo by Shane Brinkerhoff, St. George News

Shortly after 8:30 a.m., officers responded to the crash on East 100 South near the corner of South 1200 East, just west of Fabulous Freddy’s Car Wash.

According to the probable cause statement filed in support of the arrest, the call originally came in as an injury accident but ended up being a single-vehicle crash with no injuries reported at the scene.

At the scene, officers found a tan 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with its front end smashed into a tree and a local man, later identified as 20-year-old Alberto Ramiro Galvan, sitting in the driver’s seat. 

While speaking with the driver, the officer noted a strong odor of alcohol coming from the suspect, whose eyes were reportedly glassy and bloodshot.

The report states the driver was administered a field sobriety test, which he failed, and Galvan was taken into custody by police. A breathalyzer test later revealed a blood alcohol content of .133, nearly three times the legal limit in Utah. 

While speaking to police, Galvan said he had been drinking beer and Crown Royal the night before, the report states, adding that he told police his last drink was roughly three hours prior to the crash. 

Galvan was transported to St. George Regional Hospital, and once he was medically cleared, he was booked into jail facing suspected DUI and three other misdemeanor charges, including being an alcohol restricted driver, since he was underage, as well as driving on a suspended license and possession of tobacco by a minor. 

On Monday, the suspect was formally charged with the offenses, as well as a misdemeanor charge for underaged consumption of alcohol, which was added following the review by the Washington County Attorney’s Office. The suspect has since been released from custody.

Ed. Note: A new Utah law generally prohibits the release of arrest booking photos until after a conviction is obtained. 

This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved.

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