A 24-year-old man is facing DWI charges after he allegedly slammed into an unmarked Austin Police Department vehicle during the Austin Marathon, reported KVUE. Officials state the collision occurred while officers were handling race-related barricades at East Oltorf Street and South Congress Avenue early Sunday morning.
Diego Perez-Ayala is accused of racing his car northbound on South Congress at dangerously high speeds around 8:23 a.m., failing to deeply slow down, and striking the police vehicle, which contained two officers inside. "They were able to keep those participating in a major event safe," Austin police union President Michael Bullock told KVUE. "No one was hurt. Our officers were OK, but they were out there. They put themselves on the line."
Not only did Perez-Ayala reportedly hit the police car, but he also continued to lose control and crashed into a power pole down the road. He then tried unsuccessfully to run away from the scene but was apprehended roughly 70 yards from the wreck, according to the court affidavit. The two officers in the patrol vehicle complained of wrist, back, and glute pain, CBS Austin reported.
Evidence of intoxication was clear, police said, noting Perez-Ayala's bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the smell of alcohol on his breath. He even seemed to laugh at times and "did not seem to understand the gravity of the situation," as per the affidavit. A preliminary breath test indicated a blood alcohol level of 0.208, over twice the Texas legal limit of 0.08. Empty alcohol containers were also found in his vehicle.
Currently held at the Travis County Jail under a $46,000 bond, Perez-Ayala must now also face two charges for a car accident involving injury.
