Mugshot of Hugo Prada. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — A man who crashed into the back of another vehicle during a collision on Turpentine Run road last week is facing DUI charges in court.
Last Wednesday, police were dispatched to the scene of a reported auto collision on Turpentine Run road, near the garbage bin site. When they got there, they saw a green Dodge Dakota facing east on the roadway. A silver Toyota Tacoma was behind the Dodge, facing in the same direction. Police investigations revealed that the driver of the Dodge had stopped in a line of traffic when the Tacoma barreled into him from behind.
The Tacoma’s driver, Hugo Prada, seemed intoxicated — a strong odor of alcohol wafted from his person, his eyes were red and watery, and he stumbled as he walked to the vehicle to retrieve his documents, holding on to the side of the truck to keep himself upright. When initially asked, he told police that he had consumed no alcoholic beverages within the past two hours, but when police informed him that they would conduct the standardized field sobriety tests on him, Prada reportedly admitted to having one drink.
One of the tests was administered at the scene of the collision, and Prada was taken to the Traffic Investigation Bureau to complete the other two, which he failed. He consented to chemical blood analysis, and the administered intoximeter test resulted in a blood alcohol reading of .170, over twice the legal limit of .08.
Prada was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, illegal blood alcohol content, and negligent driving.
In court on Friday, Prada learned that if the state proved its case against him, he would be facing up to 2 years in prison on all charges, and/or a fine of up to $4,000. The presiding judge left bail as set at $1000, and imposed travel restrictions — Prada is not to leave the St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island jurisdiction without written permission from the court. He is prohibited from drinking alcohol, and will have his driving privileges suspended for 90 days from the date of his arraignment, which is scheduled for March 17.
