TRAFFIC

Man arrested in crash near Lake Pleasant that paralyzed 1, injured 5

Chelsea Curtis
Arizona Republic
Miguel Espin, 24.

Authorities said 24-year-old Miguel Espin was suspected of driving impaired during a head-on crash near Lake Pleasant on Sunday night that left one of his passengers paralyzed.

The crash occurred about 6:45 p.m. in the Lake Pleasant Regional Park when a Hummer and minivan collided head-on, according to Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez.  

Espin drove the Hummer carrying a woman and three children, Enriquez said. The woman was flown to a hospital in Deer Valley for non-life-threatening injuries but was later determined to be paralyzed in her lower extremities, Enriquez said. 

All three children from the Hummer and two passengers from the minivan were also taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Enriquez. 

Espin attempted to flee the scene but was later found about a fourth of a mile away, according to Enriquez. He was determined to be impaired at the time of the crash and was booked into a Maricopa County jail, Enriquez said. 

Espin faces charges on suspicion of aggravated assault, endangerment, leaving the scene of an injury accident and aggravated DUI, according to Enriquez. 

Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels

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