Two men arrested for hit-and-run crash that injured 7 people

11:11 AM PDT on Thursday, March 27, 2008
By ANTONIA GIEDWOYN, kgw.com Staff

Police Wednesday arrested a man accused of crashing into a car on Highway 6 last weekend and fleeing the scene, leaving behind seven injured people.

Officers also arrested his passenger following the crash near Tillamook.


Eric Ramirez, 19, faces charges of felony hit-and-run, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person and assault, said Oregon State Police Sergeant Lane Hendrickson.

Photos: Crash scene

Carlos Jimenez-Balboa, 25, was arrested for felony hit-and-run.


Investigators believe Ramirez had been driving at the time of the 11:30 p.m. crash and Balboa later drove to the Tillamook location where they abandoned the van.

Background: Man on phone with 911 when hit by van

Both men live in Portland.


Police said they developed leads thanks to the public's help, and located the suspects at a Greyhound bus station in Salem Wednesday night.


Investigators learned the suspects were planning on leaving the state by bus the next day.


Both suspects were being held in jail.


At the time of the crash Saturday night, driver Steven Kershaw was talking with 911 dispatchers, describing an out-of-control van nearby when suddenly the van crashed into Kershaw's car.


The crash can be heard on audio of the 911 call.

Audio: Listen to 911 call, crash

The van rear-ended Kershaw's car, sending it into the eastbound lanes, where it collided with another vehicle. Kershaw, his wife and his daughter were injured, as were all four people in the second vehicle.

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/k ... e820b.html

http://www.tillamooksheriff.org/DailyInmateList.htm