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Family injured in DWI-related crash

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Avery Thomas was released from McKinley County Adult Detention Center on a $3,000 cash bond May 15, two days after he injured a mom and her two daughters in a suspected drunk driving crash.

According to Gallup Police Department Harland Soseeah’s report, Thomas, who was driving a Chevrolet Suburban, flew through a stop sign at the intersection of Aztec Avenue and 7th Street and struck Marieta Buck’s Chevrolet Cruze around noon May 13.

GPD Capt. Marinda Spencer said a 4-year-old girl was ejected from the vehicle. She was transported to UNM hospital in Albuquerque for treatment of skull fractures.

Buck, 27, who is pregnant, told the officer that her water broke. The other child, an 11-year-old girl, complained of head pain.

When he spoke with Thomas, Soseeah could smell liquor on his breath and noted that he had bloodshot, watery eyes and was slurring his words.

Thomas, 27, refused to engage in field sobriety and breath tests. Soseeah was able to obtain a search warrant from Magistrate Judge Kenneth Howard for a blood draw to determine Thomas’s blood alcohol level. The result of that test is pending.

Meanwhile, Spencer said the Buck and her two daughters were recovering at home Monday.

In addition to being charged with his first aggravated DWI, Thomas was charged with three counts of great bodily injury by motor vehicle, driving without a license, careless driving, and failing to stop at an intersection.

Thomas has a preliminary examination scheduled for 1:30 pm on May 24 in Magistrate Judge April Silversmith’s chamber.