A 37-year-old Scranton man faces charges after he crashed into a parked vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, injuring a passenger in his car, police said.
As officers responded to 300 Birch St. in the city around 1:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of a two-vehicle crash, county dispatchers informed them a male — later identified as Jose Prieto-Alvario was unresponsive in the roadway, according to a criminal complaint.
Officers found a white vehicle in the middle of the road that sustained front-end damage, including a crack on the passenger-side windshield, and saw blood on the passenger-side windshield and window, police said.
Police discovered Jose Prieto-Alvario lying on the ground next to the vehicle and another male — Jonathan Prieto-Alvario, who officers identified as the driver, kneeling beside him, according to the criminal complaint.
Although police said the injuries suffered by Jose Prieto-Alvario appeared non-life-threatening, he may have suffered a severe concussion, which led him to be intubated, officers said.
He received medical care at the scene before being transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center, police said.
Officers observed multiple Corona beer bottles scattered in the road among the crash debris, and a witness told police he heard the accident from his nearby residence and watched the driver pull someone from the passenger side of the vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.
While attempting to interview Jonathan Prieto-Alvario, officers noticed he was unsteady on his feet and they detected a strong odor of alcohol coming, police said.
Jonathan Prieto-Alvario admitted driving the vehicle, but refused to provide details about what led to the collision, officers said.
Police charged Jonathan Prieto-Alvario, 932 Prospect Ave., with aggravated assault by vehicle, accidents involving death or serious injury, and DUI.
As of Tuesday, he remained in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 5 at 11 a.m.