A Towaoc man faces charges including eluding an officer and vehicular assault after colliding with a vehicle Saturday night and severely injuring a passenger.
Cortez Police officer Joseph Yen reported that he attempted to pull over a dark blue Dodge Durango about 10:30 p.m. Saturday around Linden and Main streets because the vehicle was going 46 mph in a 25 mph zone.
As Yen pursued the Dodge, it swerved into the driver’s side of a white Hyundai Santa Fe, which held five people.
“It appeared to be a deliberate act since there were no other vehicles in the roadway,” Yen said.
The driver of the Dodge was identified as Gabriel Peabody of Towaoc. He was detained by Yen and officer Kaden Sharp.
The driver of the Hyundai, who was not identified in the police report, said Peabody drove as if he was “intentionally targeting” the vehicle.
The Hyundai sustained significant damage, and air bags were deployed. A passenger was extracted from the Hyundai and taken to Southwest Memorial Hospital with “severe” injuries, then airlifted out of Cortez.
The passenger’s injuries included subdermal hematoma, fractured ribs, pulmonary contusion, spleen laceration, kidney lacerations and a sacral fracture.
The Dodge, which was registered to Samantha Porambo, had significant damage to the front end. Peabody was unable to provide proof of insurance and was found to be driving without a valid driver’s license.
According to the police report, Peabody started crying and told officers that he had smoked “a little” marijuana before driving.
At the Montezuma County Detention Center, Peabody was put on felony hold for vehicular eluding, vehicular assault, speeding, driving without a valid driver’s license, driving without proof of insurance and driving without a seat belt.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 7 at 9:30 a.m. for his return filing of charges.
