A Hurricane City man faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges following an October collision that sent six juveniles to the hospital, according to arrest documents released by the Hurricane City Police Department. Victor Manuel Lomeli, 21, was jailed on Nov. 11 on charges including two counts of negligently operating a vehicle with serious bodily injury.
According to arrest documents, the incident occurred at 1:41 a.m. on Oct. 24 at 3700 W. State St. in Hurricane. A Hurricane City Police officer responded to reports of a collision involving a white Honda Civic and a white Chevrolet Malibu. The documents state the Honda Civic was traveling at a high rate of speed when it ran a red light and collided with the Chevrolet Malibu as it attempted to merge onto State Route 9.
The impact caused severe damage to the trunk area of the Chevrolet Malibu, which was occupied by seven juveniles at the time of the crash. Officers discovered approximately 100 yards of skid marks leading to the damaged vehicle. The severity of the incident was underscored by the fact that four of the seven juveniles were unable to exit through the back of the vehicle.
Six of the seven juveniles involved in the crash were transported to St. George Regional Hospital for medical treatment. The injuries sustained by the young passengers were significant. One juvenile suffered a grade-three rupture of the spleen and five fractures to the spine, while another juvenile sustained a dislocated hip that required surgery on the femur.
During the investigation, the officer noted that Lomeli had the odor of alcohol coming from his mouth. An empty beer bottle was also discovered on the passenger floor of the Honda Civic. Arrest documents indicate that Lomeli made a spontaneous utterance to another agency officer admitting to consuming alcohol. Lomeli also later stated that he believed he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Following his arrest on Nov. 11, Lomeli was ordered held without bail. He faces a range of charges including two counts of negligently operating a vehicle with serious bodily injury, listed as third-degree felonies, and four counts of negligently operating a vehicle with bodily injury, classified as class A misdemeanors. Additional charges include driving under the influence, a class B misdemeanor; reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor; and an open container charge, listed as a class C misdemeanor.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the high-speed collision and the subsequent injuries remains an active matter for local authorities.
