Texas Man Accused of Running Red Light, Causing Injury Crash at Rochester Intersection

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Texas man is facing charges for an injury crash that happened in Rochester Tuesday night. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Wednesday. 

He was driving a pickup that collided with a car shortly after 9:40 p.m. The charges also allege he left the scene of the crash. 

Driver Charged for Pickup-Car Collision at Intersection of 41 St. and 18th Ave. in Northwest Rochester

The two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of 18th Ave. and 41st St. NW.

Rochester police found the victim at the scene with “a visible mark and swelling on the left side of her face and bruising on her left knee,” according to the complaint.  

She told police that she proceeded through the intersection on southbound 18th Ave. NW with a green light when she saw the pickup strike the driver’s side of her vehicle, the charges say. 

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The complaint says the victim, who declined an ambulance transport and said her grandfather would take her to the hospital, complained of head jaw and knee pain while being evaluated by an ambulance crew.

She also stated that she may have lost consciousness. 

See Also: Rochester Man Charged for Injury Crash Near Century High School 

Multiple witnesses at the scene told police they saw the pickup run a red light, according to the court document. Police also obtained a description of the pickup from a witness. 

Suspect Vehicle Found at Gates of Rochester

Officers later located the pickup at the nearby Gates of Rochester Apartment complex. Police used the Automated License Plate Reader in the area to confirm the pickup’s involvement in the crash. 

Upon approaching the vehicles officers found a man in the driver’s seat. He was identified as 35-year-old Eric S. Valenzuela of San Antonio. 

Intoxication Suspected

The charges say officers noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage and that Valenzuela stumbled out of the vehicle after being informed he was suspected of being involved in a crash.

Valenzuela began walking away from police when asked if he would perform field sobriety testing. 

He was arrested and brought to St. Mary’s Hospital for an evaluation. Police also obtained a sample of his blood that was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing, the complaint says. 

Once he was medically cleared, officers transported Valenzuela to the Olmsted County Jail and noted that he asked the officer multiple times to stop the squad vehicle so they could fight, the court document states. 

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Valenzuela is charged with two counts of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation and one count of misdemeanor DWI. He’s scheduled to make his first court appearance Thursday morning.