2 arrested after wild NW Redmond DUII crash

A Redmond man was arrested on DUII and other charges early Tuesday morning after a wild crash off Northwest Maple Avenue in which his car struck a street sign, sailed over a large rockpile and went through a fence, stopping in a home’s front yard, police said. His passenger also was arrested on an outstanding DUII warrant.

Police responded around 12:15 a.m. to a 911 call of a single-vehicle crash in the 2000 block of Maple Avenue — just yards away from another DUII crash on Feb. 11, in which a car crashed into a home, Lt. Curtis Chambers said.

This time, officers arrived to find the car’s two occupants, both Redmond men, had been able to remove themselves from the 2012 Kia Optima, Chambers said. Driver Aaron Faherty, 31, was unhurt, while passenger Aaron Kuper, 31, sustained minor injuries.

Investigators said Faherty was headed west on Maple Avenue when his car left the road, hit the street sign, went over the top of a large rockpile and then through a fence before coming to rest in the front yard of a home, Cambers said.

Faherty was arrested at on charges of DUII-alcohol, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person. Chambers said more crimes are possible after further investigation.

Faherty was taken to the Redmond Police Department, where he was booked and released to a sober adult, the lieutenant said.

Kuper was taken into custudy on an outstanding DUII arrest warrant. He was taken by Redmond Fire and Rescue medics to St. Charles Redmond, where he was issued a new court date on his warrant and released.

Along with impairment, high speed is considered a contributing factor in the crash, Chambers said.

“Since the start of this year, your Redmond Police Department have arrested no less than 27 people for DUII,” Chambers said in a news release.

“These people arrested, we fear, represent only a fraction of the actual number of people driving impaired in our community,” he added. “DUII drivers place the lives of countless other people in danger during every hour of every day.

“The Redmond Police Department would like to encourage everyone to not drive after becoming impaired. In Oregon, approximately 40 percent of all fatal crashes involve at least one DUII driver. Please remember to plan ahead when choosing to drink or use another impairing substance. Arrange a ride, call a taxi or ride-share service, or walk to your destination after becoming impaired.

“Save lives, drive sober!” Curtis concluded.