A Hialeah man was taken into custody on Wednesday after authorities said that he ran a red light while inebriated last month, causing a collision that injured three individuals, including a five-month-old infant.
The driver and only occupant of a white 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan, 45-year-old Didier Duran-Pena, is charged with running a red light and causing a collision with a red 2016 Nissan Altima on June 22, according to an arrest report from the Hialeah Police Department.
The crash that happened just before 8:30 p.m. that night was caused by Duran-Pena running a red light close to the intersection of West Eighth Avenue and West 29th Avenue, according to witnesses and CCTV evidence.
According to the police, the Altima’s driver had a serious splenic laceration and a lung contusion. The baby in the back seat also had several rib fractures, as did the front passenger who also experienced abdominal fluid buildup.
When medical personnel arrived at the scene, according to Hialeah Fire Rescue authorities, they detected a “strong odor of alcohol” on Duran-Pena and saw that he had “red, glassy eyes and slurred speech.”
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According to Duran-Pena’s police report, he acknowledged having a few drinks earlier in the day but was unable to give an exact number. Duran-Pena was brought to Hialeah Hospital, where a search warrant for a blood draw was carried out, prior to being placed under arrest.
According to authorities, tests revealed he was intoxicated when the incident occurred. According to jail records, he is accused of three charges of driving while intoxicated and causing serious bodily harm.
Duran-Pena’s bond was set at $30,000 at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Thursday, when he was being held there.
