PANAMA CITY — Police have charged a Panama City man with DUI involving serious injury after a 23rd Street crash sent nine people to the hospital, according to court records.
William Wayne Vestal, 28, suffered injuries in the Thursday night crash. He was treated at a local hospital and then booked into the Bay County Jail.
Witnesses told police three vehicles were sitting at the traffic light at the 23rd Street and Wilson Avenue intersection Thursday at about 8 p.m. Vestal, in a 2005 Chevy SUV, was driving east at a high rate of speed, police reported. Without slowing down, Vestal careened into the rear of the line of vehicles, causing a chain reaction of crashes, according to Panama City Police Department reports.
Two of the passengers, a 6-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy, were rushed to a local hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, officers reported. Their names were not released.
Nine people in total were taken local hospitals for treatment of various injuries. Three of the four cars involved were towed from the scene with damage of a combined $30,000, PCPD reported.
Officers secured Vestal’s car once he was taken to the hospital. During the crash investigation, police allegedly found a plastic container behind the driver’s seat. Inside was a small amount of marijuana and multiple paraphernalia items, police said. On the bottom of the container was a bloody smear of Vestal’s fingerprint.
Officers also said they found an open alcohol container and that the driver refused to submit a blood alcohol test.
Vestal has been charged with a litany of offenses, including DUI involving a crash with serious injuries, possession of less than 20 grams marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license and refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test. Police also cited Vestal for driving at excessive speed.
His combined bond was $16,000.