SAIPAN — A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a two-vehicle crash on Chalan Pale Arnold Road in Gualo Rai left four people injured and debris scattered across all four lanes of the roadway, the Department of Public Safety said.
The crash was reported March 22 near XO Market. Highway Patrol officers arriving on scene found a gray Honda Civic sedan and a black Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, both with major damage.
Emergency medical services transported the Civic’s female driver and a passenger to the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation. The Tacoma’s male driver and a female passenger were also taken to CHCC for evaluation. All four were treated and released, with the exception of the Tacoma driver.
The responding officer observed signs of impairment in the Tacoma driver upon initial contact. At CHCC, the officer conducted a DUI investigation. The driver admitted to consuming alcohol before the crash and refused to submit to field sobriety testing and chemical testing under implied consent laws.
After being medically cleared, the driver, identified as Richmond Ray Saimon, 26, was transported to the Department of Corrections, where he was booked and detained.
Preliminary findings indicate speed and alcohol are considered contributing factors. The investigation is ongoing.
