A Yelm man accused of attempting to elude a police vehicle in May faces new charges after he allegedly collided head-on with a logging truck while intoxicated.
The crash reportedly left his passenger with a traumatic brain injury.
Alvaro Soto-Jassi, 22, is charged with vehicular assault, a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and second-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license.
The gross misdemeanor is punishable by up to 364 days in jail.
According to court documents, the collision occurred March 12 and was investigated by the Washington State Patrol (WSP). Prosecutors filed charges on Monday.
Soto-Jassi was arrested on May 8 after allegedly fleeing from a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy at speeds over 130 mph.
He made a preliminary appearance for the eluding charge later that day. A judge set bail at $50,000 cash or bond.
Soto-Jassi made a preliminary appearance for the new charges on Tuesday.
“Given his inability to not drive a vehicle, and the danger that he presents to the general public, I’m going to ask for $250,000 cash or surety,” Chief Deputy Prosecutor William Halstead said.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller asked for $25,000 in bail, noting the allegation date preceded the matter that resulted in Soto-Jassi’s jail booking.
Judge J. Andrew Toynbee set bail at $50,000 cash or bond.
According to a probable cause affidavit, WSP troopers on March 12 responded to a head-on collision between a Ford pickup truck and a logging truck on state Route 7 near Mineral.
Troopers found Soto-Jassi lying on the ground. His passenger, Norberto T. Soto Guatemala, of Roy, was trapped inside the truck.
Soto-Jassi was transported to Tacoma General Hospital, WSP said in a press memo shortly after the incident.
Emergency personnel extracted Soto Guatemala from the truck and airlifted him to Harborview Medical Center “due to the severity of his head injuries,” according to the affidavit.
The logging truck driver reported no significant injuries from the crash.
Troopers at the scene found several cans of Twisted Lemonade in and around the truck, some open, some closed.
“There was also an opened box of Twisted Lemonade inside the rear seat of the Ford truck and another outside the vehicle as well,” the affidavit said.
The troopers concluded that Soto-Jassi had crossed the centerline and struck the logging truck. Both vehicles were totaled in the crash.
According to the affidavit, a trooper visited Soto-Jassi at Morton General Hospital prior to his transfer to Tacoma and “could smell the odor of alcohol coming directly from his breath.”
WSP obtained a search warrant for a blood draw. Those results were still pending when the probable cause affidavit was filed on Monday.
Soto-Jassi’s next court hearing is scheduled for June 29.
