Chico man arrested for felony DUI following major injury crash in Chico on Tuesday
CHICO, Calif. — A 23-year-old Chico man was arrested for felony DUI and other charges following a major injury crash.
At 2:47 p.m. on Tuesday, officers with the Chico Police Department (CPD) responded to a crash between a Mazda 3 and a Dodge Charger near Cohasset Road and Azalea Avenue.
Officers arrived at the intersection and learned the driver in the Mazda sustained major injuries. CPD said the driver was transported to Enloe Medical Center. Additionally, a 17-year-old was inside the Mazda but they only sustained minor injuries.
CPD said witnesses saw the Dodge Charger driving northbound on Cohasset Road at a high rate of speed just before the crash. After further investigation, CPD determined the Mazda made a left turn onto Cohasset Rd. from Azalea Ave. just as Freels was speeding northbound on Cohasset Rd. The Mazda and Charger crashed nearly head-on, said CPD.
Due to the severity of the injuries, CPD called their Major Accident Investigation Team to the scene.
While investigating, CPD investigators determined the driver of the Charger, 23-year-old Maximilian Freels of Chico, was intoxicated. Freels was arrested for DUI, transported to the hospital to treat minor injuries, and was then taken to jail.
The area remained closed for five hours while officers investigated the crash. While at the scene, CPD said they found a handgun inside Freels' Charger along with a loaded magazine.
Ultimately, Freels was arrested for felony DUI, concealed carry of a firearm, and criminal storage of a firearm. His bail is currently set at $81,000.
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