An 86-year-old man who caused a three-car crash while driving the wrong way down I-5 November 24, 2014 admitted to drinking brandy beforehand to help with a cough, according to charges filed in Pierce County Superior Court.
According to the Washington State Patrol, Panos Palas of University Place was driving north on southbound I-5 near the Tacoma Dome around 10:30 p.m. when he hit a minivan before crashing head on into another car.
According to the charging documents, the minivan was only lightly damaged, but one of the three passengers in the second car suffered a broken leg. She was taken to the hospital for treatment.
When deputies contacted Palas inside his Toyota Rav4, they could smell alcohol on his breath and he spoke with a slur, according to the charging documents. He reportedly told deputies he had been driving from Auburn and gotten turned around in the construction area.
Despite denying having anything to drink, Palas blew a BAC of 0.123, according to the charging documents. He later reportedly admitted to drinking brandy because he had a cough and the liquor helped with his medicine.
Palas was booked into Pierce County Jail following the incident. He was charged with vehicular assault the following Wednesday.
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