BOSTON, Aug. 2, 2017—A Malden man was arraigned today for drunk driving and other charges in connection with the early morning Chelsea crash that left his passenger critically injured and a second motorist hospitalized, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

HECTOR JIMENEZ-VALEZ (D.O.B. 10/13/97) was arraigned today in Chelsea District Court on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a collision causing personal injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.  Assistant District Attorney Breanna Arsenault requested bail of $10,000 and orders that Jimenez-Valez refrain from drinking alcohol or driving in the event he is to be released on bail.  A judge set bail at $7,500 and imposed the requested conditions of release.

Chelsea Police responded to the area of Maple Street and Everett Avenue at approximately 2:15 a.m. today for a serious motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival, officers located a 2016 Toyota Corolla with damage to the rear end on the sidewalk and a 2012 Honda Civic with heavy front end damage in the middle of the roadway.  Witnesses informed police that the driver of the Civic had fled the scene on foot, providing a description of the driver and a statement that he had been travelling at a high rate of speed and ran a red light moments before the collision.

A front-seat passenger suffering from a severe head injury was trapped inside the heavily damaged Civic.  He was freed from the vehicle and transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with life-threatening injuries.  The driver and sole occupant of the Corolla was found trapped and unconscious inside the vehicle.  He was likewise freed and transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Jimenez-Valez, who matched the description of the driver provided by witnesses, was located by police a short distance away with blood on his shirt and cuts to his wrists, knees, and face, prosecutors said.  He was unsteady on his feet and officers detected the odor of alcohol.  He was taken to CHA Everett Hospital, where he was treated and released into police custody.

State Police detectives assigned to Conley’s office and other State Police assets responded to the scene, as did the Chelsea Fire Department.

Jimenez-Valez was represented by Steven Topazio.  He returns to court Aug. 22.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.