ODESSA, Texas — A man in Odessa was seriously injured early Sunday morning after being hit by an 18-year-old intoxicated driver, according to an arrested affidavit obtained by the City of Odessa Police Records Department.
At approximately 1:35 a.m. on Sunday, the Odessa Police Department (OPD) was called to 3700 block of Everglade due to a major accident where "a black Dodge Challenger hit a person then left the scene."
When officers arrived, they found a man, identified as Alex Bingham, face down on the road near the curb of the 3600 block of Bellaire, according to the affidavit.
Officers were able to see that Bingham had "extensive injuries consistent with being hit by a car." OPD could also hear that Bingham had signs of struggle with his breathing.
According to the affidavit, officers spoke with Bingham's wife who said that he went outside to check on what they believed was an animal being hit by a car. Then, she heard a loud thud. That is when the wife went outside and saw her husband facing down on the ground after being "hit by a dark colored Dodge Challenger."
The affidavit states that K9 Officer J. Galindo "observed a trail of skid marks leaving the crash scene down the street leading up to a black Dodge Challenger."
According to the affidavit, officers could see that the Challenger had extensive body damage and was missing its front right wheel. Inside the vehicle, OPD found three phones, a wallet and a driver's license that belonged to man identified as 18-year-old Jose Contreras.
After officer located the vehicle involved in the crash, the affidavit states that dispatch was advised of a call they received from a woman who said that Contreras was in front of a residence in the 1400 block of East Century. However, when officers arrived, Contreras was not there.
According to the affidavit, officers were able to speak with two women inside the residence who said they were with Contreras during the crash.
While speaking with the two women, OPD was advised that dispatch received another call saying that a "subject at the Kent Kwik (4203 N Grandview) of a Jose subject advising his vehicle was just stolen."
Officers went to the Kent Kwik and were able to find Contreras.
According to the affidavit, officers were able to observe Contreras to have signs of intoxication: "a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from Jose's breath, slurred speech, extremely emotional."
The affidavit states that Contreras told police he was drunk during the crash and was still drunk when speaking to police. Contreras also told OPD that he did not drink after the crash only drank at "the bar out west."
A sobriety test was conducted on Contreras.
According to the affidavit, OPD determined that Contreras was intoxicated being the wheel and did not have "regular use of his mental or physical faculties, which caused him to crash into someone else and cause serious bodily injury." Police also determined that he fled the scene of the crash that left Bingham with serious bodily injuries.
Contreras was arrested for intoxication assault with a vehicle causing seriously bodily injury and collision involving serious bodily injury. Both charges on felony three.
According to Ector County jail records, he was booked on two surety bonds, totaling $30,000 ($15,000 for each charge). Contreras has since bonded out.