PASADENA — A 39-year-old Pasadena man is accused of being drunk when crashed an SUV on the 134 Freeway, critically injuring a passenger, before fleeing the scene on foot with two young children, authorities said.
Jeremy Millan Drew was booked on suspicion of felony drunken driving following the 11:10 p.m. crash on the eastbound 134 Freeway, just east of San Rafael Avenue, according to Los Angeles County booking records and California Highway Patrol officials.
He was driving a 1992 Chevrolet Suburban at an unknown speed with three passengers prior to the crash, Officer J. Protzman of the CHP’s Altadena office said in a written statement. The passengers were another 39-year-old Pasadena man, a 12-year-old Pasadena girl and a 3-year-old Pasadena boy.
Drew lost control of the SUV, allowing it to drift to the right side of the road and collide with an unoccupied, disabled van parked along the shoulder, Protzman said.
The adult passenger suffered major injuries and became trapped inside the SUV, he said.
Firefighters cut open the SUV to free the man from the mangled wreckage, Pasadena Fire Department officials said. He was hospitalized in critical condition.
But Drew exited the crashed SUV, according to the CHP.
“(Drew) took the children and fled the scene of the collision prior to law enforcement arrival,” Protzman said.
CHP officers found him and the children at Orange Grove Boulevard and Live Oaks Avenue, just under a mile away from the crash scene, officials said.
Drew was treated for minor to moderate injuries prior to booking, Protzman said. The two children were treated for minor injuries.
Investigating officers determined Drew was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash and arrested him on suspicion of felony drunken driving, officials said.
The relationship between the four occupants of the SUV was not clear Sunday.
According to booking records, Drew was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail pending his initial court appearance.