http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/301437225429714

Published on Monday, September 18, 2006

NEW: Mexican national pleads guilty to vehicular assault

YAKIMA — A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to a felony charge of vehicular assault and was sentenced to three months in jail, after which he will be deported.

David Blanco-Balderas, 23, was identified as the driver of a 1990 Geo Storm that rolled over July 26 near the intersection of McCullough Road and South 42nd Avenue, south of Yakima on the Ahtanum Ridge.

According to authorities, a 17-year-old girl in the back seat seriously injured her right arm when the Geo rolled. The car was traveling at 70 mph on gravel, police said.

Deputy prosecutor Steve Keller said Blanco-Balderas was in the country illegally and will be deported after he is released from jail.

Blanco-Balderas was being held on a federal immigration detainer after authorities said he lied about his identity and could not state his true address.

– Chris Bristol