Two hurt in collision in LaGrange, one driver charged over alleged fake ID

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 29, 2015

By Melanie Ruberti

mruberti@civitasmedia.com

LaGrange Police Officer Robert Hall said a Ford Expedition and Nissan XTerra collided Dallis and Juniper streets Monday afternoon. Both SUVs rotated around until the Expedition smashed into a utility pole. Hall said the driver’s of both vehicles only had minor injuries; the passengers were not hurt. Both drivers were cited in the crash.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/09/web1_WEB0929DallisStAx.jpgLaGrange Police Officer Robert Hall said a Ford Expedition and Nissan XTerra collided Dallis and Juniper streets Monday afternoon. Both SUVs rotated around until the Expedition smashed into a utility pole. Hall said the driver’s of both vehicles only had minor injuries; the passengers were not hurt. Both drivers were cited in the crash.

Melanie Ruberti Photos | Daily News

LaGRANGE — Two people were hurt when LaGrange police said two SUVs collided in the intersection of Dallis and Juniper streets about 3:30 p.m. Monday.

LaGrange police officer Robert Hall said the driver of a black Ford Expedition was eastbound on Dallis Street as the driver of a yellow Nissan Xterra was westbound.

Hall said the driver of the Xterra, identified as Sara Perez-Ramirez, 38, tried to make a left turn onto Juniper Street, but struck the front driver’s side of the Expedition. The two SUVs then rotated around the intersection, finally coming to a stop when the Expedition smashed into a utility pole, according to Hall.

A part of the pole was embedded inside the passenger side of the Expedition.

Hall said the engines in both SUVs were smoking when he arrived on scene. He grabbed a fire extinguisher from his patrol car and prevented the vehicles from catching fire.

Both drivers were transported to an area hospital for treatment, stated Hall. One driver complained of pain in her foot; the other driver had minor lacerations on her arms, he said.

None of the passengers in the SUVs were hurt.

Perez-Ramirez was cited for failure to yield and found at fault in the wreck, Hall wrote in a report. She allegedly gave Hall a forged Washington ID, according to the report. After she was released from the hospital, Hall said he confronted her about the allegedly fake ID and Perez-Ramirez gave him a Mexican consular ID, which he said was also fake.

Perez-Ramirez was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle without a license, according to Hall’s report.

The driver of the Expedition was expected to be cited for failure of an instructional permit because she was 15 with someone under the age of 21 in the car, Hall told the Daily News.

The officer called City of LaGrange workers to examine the utility pole to ensure there was no damage to the post.

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter at LaGrange Daily News. She may be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.