Man allegedly crashes into multiple vehicles, chases family through parking lot
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POCATELLO — A Pocatello man who allegedly crashed into three vehicles while intoxicated and chased a family through a parking lot was arrested Wednesday evening.
Police said Eloy Cuch, 30, has been charged with felony driving under the influence and was cited multiple times for leaving the scene of an accident.
At approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday, Andrew Mikesell, his wife Jordan, their 1-year-old child and their dog were traveling on South 4th Avenue near the Bengal Creek Apartments when they spotted a vehicle approaching them head-on.
The vehicle, a Volkswagen Jetta allegedly being driven by Cuch, was traveling the wrong way on South 4th Avenue, a one-way street.
Mikesell said he pulled his Subaru over as far as he could to prevent a collision, but the Volkswagen still struck his vehicle.
After the Volkswagen backed up and then struck the Subaru a second time, Mikesell said he waved the driver into the parking lot of the Bengal Creek Apartments. As they pulled into the parking lot, Mikesell said the Volkswagen continued ramming his vehicle.
“He was so aggressive and he seemed to be trying to hit us,” Mikesell said, noting that at the time he believed the driver of the Volkswagen was severely intoxicated.
Fearing for their safety, the family contacted 911 and drove through Bengal Creek’s parking lot to try to escape.
Mikesell said the Volkswagen followed his vehicle as he drove around the apartment complex twice. During the pursuit, the Volkswagen struck a parked vehicle in the parking lot.
To buy some time before the police arrived, Mikesell exited the parking lot and drove to Triple L Towing and Repair across the street to hide behind a parked vehicle.
However, Mikesell said the Volkswagen gave up the pursuit and drove back onto South 4th Avenue, again heading the wrong way on the one-way street. Police said Cuch then struck a third vehicle.
Soon after the chase through the parking lot, Pocatello police arrived on scene and apprehended Cuch near Sullivan’s Mobile Home and RV Park.
A Pocatello Fire Department ambulance also arrived on scene, but police said nobody was transported to the hospital.
Despite escaping any physical injuries, Mikesell said his family was shaken up by the whole ordeal.
“My wife was crying,” he said. “Everybody was afraid.”