OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — A man has been charged for the collision that killed one pedestrian and involved six other parked cars in Holland Township Saturday night.
Oscar MarArteagao, a 27-year-old from Holland, is charged with Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death. He pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon.
The crash happened around 8:17 p.m. near the intersection of Butternut Drive and Rose Park Drive.
Police said MarArteagao was driving south on Butternut in a pickup when he sideswiped a car, lost control and drove onto the sidewalk on the west side of the street. He is accused of hitting a pedestrian and six separate parked cars before coming to a stop, investigators reported.
The pedestrian, Thomas Dewys of Holland, was pronounced dead on the scene.
The initial police report says drugs appeared to be a factor in the crash, and in court on Monday, a sheriff's deputy with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office testified to that. He reported that the officers at the scene said MarArteagao appeared lethargic, sleepy and continually closed his eyes. They also reported that he was walking slowly and very unsteady on his feet, and had difficulty following instructions.
During a search after the arrest, the officer found a small commercial package of marijuana in MarArteagao's pocket. A search warrant was obtained and completed at Zeeland Hospital where MarArteagao was taken for a blood test.
While there, a drug recognition expert with the Michigan State Police evaluated the suspect and concluded that he was under the influence of narcotics, citing slow, slurred speech, sluggish coordination and bloodshot, droopy eyes.
During the evaluation, the deputy reports that MarArteagao admitted to taking four white, round pills that he thought were Ibuprofen, given to him by a friend earlier in the evening.
The felony charge of could mean up to 15 years behind bars and/or a $10,000 fine. MarArteagao is being held in the Ottawa County Jail and his bond is set at $250,000.
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