Just before 9:00 p.m. last night, San Angelo Police were dispatched to the 4300 block of the W Houston Harte Expressway for the report of a two-vehicle crash.
While enroute, responding Officers received information that one of the vehicle's drivers fled the crash scene on foot along with a child, and were headed towards the Olive Garden Restaurant.
Responding Officers arrived and located the female and young child hiding in a culvert across from Cavender's Western Outfitter. The woman was identified as Leslie Zapata (DOB 06-10-90) of San Angelo and confirmed to be the driver. During the investigation, Officers smelled the odor of alcohol coming from Zapata and suspected she was driving while intoxicated. Zapata was also found to have three outstanding arrest warrants. It was also determined that Zapata and the 4-year-old male child were not injured during the crash.
During the investigation, Police determined that a 28-year-old San Angelo man was operating a 2006 Saturn SUV on the frontage road when Zapata exited the ramp at a high rate of speed and collided with his vehicle. The collision caused Zapata to lose control of her vehicle, a 2003 Hyundai Elantra, before coming to a rest in a nearby ditch. The driver of the Saturn and his 32-year-old female passenger were not injured in the crash.
San Angelo Police obtained a Child Safety Seat from the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office and transported the child to a family member's home.
Zapata was arrested for the outstanding warrants and Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Passenger Under 15YOA and transported to the Tom Green County Jail where she submitted a breath specimen.
Zapata received citations for Fail to Control Speed and transporting a child passenger without a Child Passenger Safety Seat System.