March 15--Odessa Police Department officials say a man could face a charge of assault on a public servant, a third degree felony, after attempting to bite an Ector County Sheriff's deputy and biting a medic following a two-vehicle accident Thursday night.
Johnny Ramirez, 48, was driving a gray 2001 GMC Yukon with his 8-year-old son in the passenger seat when the he reportedly failed to control his speed and struck a white 2013 Chevrolet Equinox in the 2000 block of West 22nd Street.
Three individuals were in the Chevy Equinox, including Aida Contreras, 48, and a 3-year-old girl.
The Department of Public Safety, Odessa Police Department and ECSO responded to the scene at about 8:10 p.m. Thursday. An Odessa Fire and Rescue/EMS vehicle, three OPD vehicles and a fire truck were at the scene at about 8:30 p.m.
After the impact with the Chevy Equinox, the Yukon continued westbound and struck a guardrail before crashing into a fence on the west side of Loop 338.
The GMC Yukon continued westbound on West 22nd Street after the impact and drove through a guardrail, crossing into Loop 338 and the median. The vehicle crashed into a second fence in the southbound lane of Highway 385 and ended up in a ditch, OPD officer Juan Ramos said.
Debris was scattered throughout the area surrounding the GMC Yukon, including a fragment of a bumper and pieces of plastic and metal.
Inez Salcido, 68, lives on the corner residence in front of where the impact between the two vehicles took place.
"All I heard was like a blowout," Salcido said. "The other vehicle kept driving on the street."
Salcido said he heard a vehicle speeding down West 22nd Street before the loud, "blowout" noise happened.
Ramirez and his son were transported to Medical Center Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. OPD Lt. West Carta said the three people in the Chevy Equinox were transported into an EMS vehicle, but later decided not to be taken to the hospital.
There were no reports of any injuries from the passengers in the Equinox.
While Ramirez was inside an ambulance waiting to be transported to MCH, he was "extremely uncooperative" with officers, deputies and medics, police reported. Ramirez had to be restrained by several public servants, and attempted to bite an ECSO deputy and bit 23-year-old medic Lucas Lacey, police reported.
Medical personnel advised that Ramirez would remain at MCH for an undetermined amount of time to be treated for his injuries. MCH spokeswoman Tiffany Harston said Ramirez is in fair condition.
Police say Ramirez could also face a failure to control speed misdemeanor charge.
The investigation is ongoing.
Contact Audris Ponce at 432-333-7782.
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