A 20-year old Umatilla man was arrested Sunday night following a three-vehicle minor injury crash on Highway 395 north of Hermiston.
According to the Oregon State Police, around 8:15 p.m., a Mazda RX8 driven by Lorenso Espain Rafael was southbound on Highway 395 near Baggett Lane at a high rate of speed when it crashed into the back of a southbound Honda Accord driven by Maria Crispin Mateo, 68, of Irrigon.
The impact forced the Honda across the northbound lanes, off the highway and through a chain link fence. The Mazda spun across the northbound lanes and also collided into the passenger side of a northbound Dodge Durango driven by Zachary Wilson, 31, of Umatilla.
Rafael was arrested a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants (alcohol), reckless driving, nine counts of recklessly endangering another person, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).
He was also cited for no operator’s license and driving uninsured. His vehicle was also occupied by and adult female and three children. One of the passengers was transported to Good Shepherd Community Hospital in Hermiston with a minor injury.
In addition to the driver, the Honda had another adult female and two child passengers.
