38° F Thursday, February 9, 2012

Police have charged the driver in a fiery July one-car crash on Westlake Drive with two counts of third-degree felony intoxication assault for injuring his passengers when allegedly driving while intoxicated.

According to an affidavit by Travis County Sheriff’s Deputy Darrell Gibson, data compiled by police showed that Andrew Michael Miesch, 18, of Austin, was driving his black 2004 Audi 78 mph in a 30 mph zone when he failed to navigate a slight curve and careened into a metal power pole.

“The damage to the vehicle could only be described as catastrophic and was completely inconsistent with the type of impact one would expect to see on a vehicle that was traveling at the posted 30 mph speed limit,” the affidavit reads. “The debris field at the scene of this crash was of substantial size and contained opened and unopened beer cans and a broken marijuana pipe.”

Miesch, and both passengers in the car, Ashton Claire Schultz, 18, and William Michael Taylor, 18, were transported to Brackenridge Hospital. According to police, Taylor suffered potentially life-threatening abdominal injuries that required a series of surgeries.

Standard hospital procedure involves a toxicology screen prior to the administration of medications. Police say they subpoenaed the hospital for a copy.

“The records indicate that Mr. Miesch’s blood alcohol concentration was .116,” the report reads. “His urine drug screening also indicated that he had positive test results for benzodiazepine (Schedule IV drugs), opiates (Schedule II drugs), and cannabinoid (from marijuana).”

Police arrested Miesch on Monday and set bail at $150,000. If convicted, each charge careers a penalty of two-10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Comments

  1. Parent says:

    Sad. Hopefully, lesson learned to kids and parents.

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