Photo by Nicole Inglis
The scene of a car crash early Saturday morning that involved a car hitting a downtown Steamboat building was roped off Saturday afternoon. Steamboat Springs Police Department officers arrested the driver on several charges, including driving under the influence, as a result of the crash.
Steamboat man drives car into downtown building
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Steamboat Springs Police Department officers arrested a 21-year-old Steamboat Springs man after he drove a car into the back of a downtown building early Saturday.
Sgt. Rich Brown said on Saturday afternoon that officers tried to pull over the car, driven by Andrew Balvanz, just after 2 a.m. in downtown Steamboat.
Balvanz fled from the officers, driving the car into the alley between Lincoln Avenue and Oak Street before crashing it into the back of the Déjà Vu Boutique building between Sixth and Seventh streets.
Brown said there were no injuries, and there was significant damage to the wall of the building. There was one passenger in the car.
“Once the vehicle crashed, the occupants jumped out and tried to run away,” Brown said. “Officers were able to contact the driver a short time later.”
Brown said the driver had not gotten very far and was intoxicated. Balvanz was arrested on suspicion of DUI, reckless endangerment, failing to notify police of a crash, false reporting, criminal mischief, reckless driving.
Comments
bill schurman 1 year, 2 months ago
Failure to notify police of a crash ???? Weren't the cops right there ?? A little case of overcharging ??
rhys jones 1 year, 2 months ago
He left a note. Did they miss that too?
rhys jones 1 year, 2 months ago
All seriousness aside, maybe you can answer a question, Bill: Do DA's measure their batting average against charges tried, or charges initially alleged? I'll bet it's the former. I think one reason the cops charge every violation they can fathom is to kick up the bond fee. Joe Pete loves that. One more little bit of evidence that DUI -- and crime in general -- is a cash business in this town.
Jonathan Huge 1 year, 2 months ago
As a person who was standing in a yard 75' from where this happened when it happend, heard the crash, and saw the aftermath and subsequent antics from the perpetrators of this crime I need to tell both of you that you're way off base here. Those guys were travelling at high speeds through that alley (I'd guess 30-40mph) - shortly after closing time at the bars - and could have easily killed someone. They were both WASTED and belligerent. Ex, the police were not on scene immediately after this crash, it was a few minutes later that they arrived. The individuals in question were allegedly in the act of attempting to evade police. In all seriousness, I thanked the officers. They were courteous, polite and professional. They did what it is they are supposed to do - handled a public safety issue. I'm all for transparency in gov't, holding everyone accountable, and preventing abuses... but seriously, THIS is not the incident from which to tout those ideals.
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