Officials have released details into an accident that resulted in approximately $22,000 in combined damage to an SUV and utility pole.
The Iowa State Patrol, which assisted the Ames Police Department with the accident investigation, has released its report which details the incident that occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 19. According to the report, 29-year-old Cesar Juan Martinez, Jr. was driving a 2000 Ford Excursion southbound on South Dayton Avenue in Ames when he lost control of the vehicle and began to slide sideways. The SUV then slid off the road near the Browning Street intersection before colliding with a City of Ames utility pole.
Authorities shortly thereafter responded to the accident, removing Martinez from the wreckage. He was taken to Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines, where he was treated for serious injuries.
The report states that damage to the utility pole was estimated at $10,000. It was estimated to cost $12,000 to repair or replace the vehicle, which was seriously mangled in the accident. Nearby neighborhoods temporarily lost power due to the crash, and South Dayton Avenue remained closed for a portion of the morning.
According to Iowa State Patrol spokesman Alex Dinkla, Martinez was suspected of being intoxicated at the time of the crash; however, a blood-alcohol-content test is still pending. Martinez has not been charged in connected with the accident.
Less than one week later, in a separate incident, Martinez was arrested after allegedly being found passed out on a sidewalk in downtown Ames. According to Ames Police Commander Jason Tuttle, an officer noticed Martinez laying on the sidewalk near a strip club at around 2:37 a.m. on September 25. “This occurred near Dangerous Curves bar on 5th Street,” Tuttle stated. “The officer noticed that [Martinez] had vomited, had slurred speech, and demonstrated signs of being intoxicated. He had the smell of alcohol coming from his breath. He admitted that he had consumed too much alcohol.”
Martinez was subsequently arrested on the following charges in connection with the September 25 incident:
- Public Intoxication, a simple misdemeanor
- Interference with Official Acts, a simple misdemeanor
Martinez was released from jail shortly thereafter and will be tried on both charges on November 3 at 1:00 p.m. inside a Story County courtroom, according to online records.
He also awaits the results of the blood test that will determine whether he was intoxicated at the time of the September 19 accident. Dinkla noted that such tests typically take “several weeks” to be completed.
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