HIALEAH, Fla. – A Hialeah man was arrested Wednesday after police said he caused a crash that injured three people, including a 5-month-old baby, by running a red light while intoxicated last month.
According to an arrest report from the Hialeah Police Department, 45-year-old Didier Duran-Pena, the driver and sole occupant of a white 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan, is accused of running a red light and causing a crash with a red 2016 Nissan Altima on June 22.
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According to witnesses and CCTV footage, Duran-Pena ran a red light near the intersection of West Eighth Avenue and West 29th Avenue, resulting in the collision that occurred just before 8:30 p.m. that night.
Police said the driver of the Altima suffered a lung contusion and severe spleen laceration. The front passenger sustained multiple rib fractures and abdominal fluid buildup, while the infant in the back seat also suffered multiple rib fractures.
Hialeah Fire Rescue officials said when medics responded to the scene, they smelled a “strong odor of alcohol” on Duran-Pena and noted his “red, glassy eyes and slurred speech.”
Duran-Pena’s arrest report states that he admitted to having consumed several beers earlier in the day but could not specify the amount.
Before being taken into custody, Duran-Pena was transported to Hialeah Hospital, where a search warrant for a blood draw was executed. Tests confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, according to detectives.
Jail records show he is facing three counts of driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury.
As of Thursday, Duran-Pena was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was set at $30,000.