1 charged after crash injures woman

Published 11:00 am Friday, February 24, 2017

Ayala

Ayala

A 20-year-old woman arrested after a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday is facing two felony and two misdemeanor charges after the incident caused a 37-year-old Austin woman “significant injuries,” according to police.

Isela Esmeralda Ayala of Austin was charged Thursday with two criminal vehicular operation counts, both felonies, and two misdemeanor DWI counts.

According to Austin police and court records, officers were called to a two-vehicle crash at 10:23 p.m. on Feb. 21 on the 200 block of Second Avenue Southwest.

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Ayala was driving westbound on Second Avenue Southwest when she allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign, hitting the victim’s vehicle, which was southbound on Fourth Street Southwest.

The victim refused medical attention, but later was seen at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin. She was treated for cervical spine fractures and lower leg bruising, injuries classified as “substantial bodily harm” by a doctor.

Ayala admitted to having a couple shots of tequila earlier that night. She failed a field sobriety test, blowing a preliminary 0.108 blood alcohol concentration, and was cited for a misdemeanor DWI. When it was found later that the victim was injured, the charge was raised to a felony count.

The victim was not identified.

Ayala’s next court date has not been set.