GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Police found a large empty bottle of vodka inside a driver’s vehicle moments after he rear-ended another vehicle and allegedly caused a fatal crash, court records show.
A 54-year-old woman from New Mexico, Clarissa Duran, was killed in the crash on the East Beltline.
Brian Christopher Parks’ blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was 0.1999, Grand Rapids police wrote in an affidavit for probable cause. That’s more than double the legal limit for operating a vehicle.
Parks, 20, is charged with operating while intoxicated causing death and reckless driving causing death stemming from the Sept. 30 fatal crash. He was arraigned on the charges Monday.
Witnesses told police that Parks had been driving recklessly prior to the crash in the 2100 block of East Beltline Avenue, the affidavit states. One witness said they had to pull off to the side of the road to avoid being run in to.
Both vehicles were going north when one struck the other from behind, according to police. The collision caused Duran’s vehicle to roll over. Duran was ejected from her vehicle and died at the scene.
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Police said the damage and vehicle positions indicated a high speed differential between the vehicles.
Parks was unaware of his location after the crash and combative with officers, the affidavit states. An empty bottle of vodka was found in the vehicle on the dashboard.
Police said it appeared the bottle was open and vodka was splashed all over the inside of the vehicle. Another bottle of alcohol was found underneath Parks’ seat, according to the affidavit.
When questioned, Parks admitted to drinking prior to driving, the affidavit states.
Parks is scheduled to appear before Kent County District Judge Nicholas S. Ayoub for a probable cause hearing on Oct. 11.
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