Man will stand trial for allegedly causing 5 crashes
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IDAHO FALLS — A local man is set to stand trial for allegedly causing five wrecks and running from the scene of each one.
On Nov. 9, 57-year-old Jeffrey Melgaard is accused of smashing his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado into a 1998 Dodge Durango while intoxicated. The force of the impact sent the Durango into the intersection of West 9th Street and South Holmes Ave. Melgaard allegedly backed up and drove away.
The driver of the Durango, Amy Slane, was transported Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center where she was treated for a concussion, a hematoma on the back of her head, an ill-aligned spine and torn tissue in both of her shoulders.
Hours later, police say Melgaard was involved in another hit-and-run at the intersection of 8th Street and South Holmes Ave.
He allegedly rear-ended a vehicle driven by Breann Hansen, who was transported to EIRMC. Hansen’s vehicle was sent crashing into Jeffrey Hall’s GMC Sierra. Hall’s GMC then rear-ended Rachel Crawford’s 2012 Toyota FRS.
Melgaard again allegedly fled the scene. According to court documents, a witness followed Mellgard until he crashed his Chevy into a garage, backed up and finally stopped after backing into a tree.
When police arrived, they administered Standardized Field Sobriety Tests – which Melgaard failed.
Melgaard is facing two counts of felony leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in an injury and one count of felony aggravated DUI. If convicted, he faces a minimum of one year in prison for each charge and a maximum of five years without driving privileges for the aggravated DUI.
He is scheduled to stand trial on March 23.