The Hermiston Police Department is awaiting test results from a crime lab before pressing charges against the man alleged to have struck three Hermiston children with his car while they were playing in their yard.
Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said the department sent a urine sample from Jesse J. Focht, 23, of 225 S.E. Fourth St., in Hermiston, before filing any charges.
“We sent it the urine sample in and asked for a rush so we are waiting on the crime lab,” Edmiston said.
Three children were seriously injured on the evening of Aug. 3 when they were struck by a car while they were playing in the yard of a residence in Hermiston on the 400 block of N.E. Fourth Street.
The juveniles (two 11-year-olds and one 10-year-old) were treated on scene by Umatilla County Fire District 1 paramedics. Two males were transported to Good Shepherd Hospital via ambulance and one male was transported via private vehicle.
Injuries to two boys ranged from a sprained ankle, bruising and swelling, laceration to leg that required stitches, and a laceration to face that required a stitch. A third boy suffered broken ribs, an injured spleen, and lacerations.
Focht was on felony probation at the time of the accident.
