A 59-year-old Sulphur Springs man allegedly failed to stop when involved in a vehicle crash on State Highway was was arrested on a felony driving while intoxicated charge, marking at least the third time’s he’s been charged with drunk driving, according to arrest reports.
Armando Avina Alvarez was allegedly the driver of a H3 sport utility vehicle reported to have been involved in a hit and run crash that was being investigated by sheriff’s deputies on State Highway 154. Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Aaron Hanna was reportedly called to the scene to contact Alvarez at 7:23 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10.
On contact, Hanna alleged he smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Alvarez’s breath when he spoke with slurred speech. The Sulphur Springs man also had poor balance and glassy, red blood-shot eyes, the trooper alleged in arrest reports.
When the man failed to cooperate during field sobriety testing, he was arrested for DWI. He agreed to a blood test, which was taken, then Alvarez was taken to jail, where he was booked for third or more driving while intoxicated offense and failure to stop and render aid or give information resulting in vehicle damage, Hanna alleged in arrest reports.
Jail reports show Alvarez was arrested and jailed locally on July 11. 1993, and given probation on the charge. He was arrested on a second DWI charge on Feb. 17, 1999. He was sentenced to 10-days in jail and served from April 27 to May 6, 1999, as part of punishment on a DWI charge.
Alvarez was released from the county jail Sunday, Aug. 11, on $10,000 bond on the third DWI charge and $1,000 bond on the failure to stop and render aid charge, according to jail reports.
