The alleged drunk driver of a gray Ford F150 four-door pickup truck that slammed into a power pole in Garapan returned to the hospital two days after the crash for back pain, while his front passenger, a firefighter, is awaiting medical evacuation to the Philippines.<\/p>\n
Department of Public Safety acting spokesman Jason Tarkong said that Joseph Aaron Hokin, the 26-year-old driver, returned to the Commonwealth Health Center two days after the crash due to back pain and was diagnosed with a fractured spine.<\/p>\n
Hokin reportedly refused medical treatment on the day of the crash and was released shortly after arriving at the hospital\u2019s emergency room.<\/p>\n
Tarkong said Jack Steven S. Deleon Guerrero, 22, the passenger on the front seat, suffered a laceration to his right ear, a fractured spine, and is possibly paralyzed from the waist down.<\/p>\n
Tarkong said that, as of Friday, Deleon Guerrero was awaiting medical evacuation to the Philippines for further treatment or surgery.<\/p>\n
Tarkong said that Leilani S. Cepeda, 23, also a passenger, sustained bruises on the face and a laceration on her forehead, and was discharged from the hospital the day after the incident.<\/p>\n
Traffic investigators have determined that speed and alcohol were factors in the car crash that occurred on the southbound shoulder of Beach Road by the intersection of T Galleria and Bank of Guam near the Garapan basketball court in the early morning hours of March 22.<\/p>\n
Police Sgt. Tom Blas earlier stated that Hokin was cited for speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, and for seatbelt violations.<\/p>\n
Blas said Hokin, Deleon Guerrero, and Cepeda were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.<\/p>\n
Police investigation showed that Police Officer Raymond Pangelinan called DPS Central Dispatch last March 22 at 3:12am, to report the car crash.<\/p>\n
Medics and police responded to the scene.<\/p>\n
According to at-scene investigator Juan Mendiola, the Ford F150 pickup truck was traveling south on Beach Road, Garapan. Witnesses saw the truck travelling at a high rate of speed. As the truck approached the traffic signal light intersection, it somehow lost control, hit a steel post, went off the road and struck a power pole, eventually coming to rest on the southbound shoulder.<\/p>\n
Blas said the truck had extensive damage on all sides.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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