Suspects, Victims Identified in Suspected Alcohol-Infused Racing Crash on Bryant

San Angelo police have identified the victims of last night’s crash that hospitalized four. They also obtained a search warrant to review the intoxication level of the driver of the black Nissan Altima that was involved in last night’s crash. Police suspect that driver was drinking alcohol and involved in a street race when the crash occurred. Here are the details.

Last night (June 18) just after 8:45 p.m., San Angelo police responded to a motor vehicle crash in the 600 block of N. Bryant Blvd.  Police found that a crash occurred at the intersection of N. Bryant Blvd. and 6^th St. involving a 2006 black Nissan Altima and a 2015 white Buick Enclave.  There were two occupants in each vehicle, all in need of medical treatment.  All four victims of the crash involved were transported to Shannon Medical Center with incapacitating injuries.

The driver of the Nissan Altima was identified as 31-year-old Juan Acosta and the passenger as Pedro Alvarez, 27.

Evidence at the scene indicated Acosta was drinking prior to the crash.

The driver of the Buick Enclave was identified as Patricia Lange, 74, and the passenger as Wanda Gully, 52.

Sgt. Korby Kennedy and Officer Jose Ruiz with the SAPD Traffic Division investigated the crash.  Detective Travis Kolbe with the Criminal Investigation Division responded to conduct an investigation for Intoxication Assault.

Through the investigation, police learned Acosta had been racing another vehicle northbound on Bryant Blvd.  Lange had been traveling south on Bryant Blvd. and was making a left turn to go east on 6^th Street.  Witnesses were able to provide information that Acosta disregarded the red light at the intersection of Bryant Blvd. and 6^th Street and collided with Lange’s vehicle in the intersection.

Witnesses described the vehicle Acosta was racing as a black SUV.  The SUV was not directly involved in the crash and was last seen driving northbound on Bryant Blvd.  The SUV was not located.

Due to Acosta’s injuries, he was unable to perform any Field Sobriety tests.  A search warrant was obtained for a sample of Acosta’s blood by Detective Kolbe.  A charge of Intoxication Assault is pending the results of the analysis of Acosta’s blood.  A charge of racing is also pending, police said.