Prescott eNews

On July 18th at approximately 7:29 P.M. Prescott Valley Police Officers responded to an injury crash at S.R. 89A and Viewpoint Drive.

Before arriving on scene, officers learned that one of the vehicles involved fled the area. The run vehicle was described as a blue pickup with a blown front tire.

The blue truck reportedly was pulling a horse trailer when the collision occurred. A 1994 blue Dodge pickup pulling a horse trailer was traveling eastbound on S.R. 89A. The vehicle was not able to stop and struck a 2006 green Honda 4DSD stopped at the light. The three occupants of the sedan did not report any injuries to investigators. The suspect was did not report any injuries either.

Immediately after the crash the driver of the dodge pickup stopped. He reportedly then broke away from the horse trailer and fled the area in his vehicle. There were two off duty Prescott Police Officers in the area when the collision occurred. One of the off duty officers was able to follow the run vehicle while the other assisted with the crash scene and called 911. The officer who followed the run vehicle relayed the information to Prescott Valley Officers who were responding. He estimated that the run vehicle reached speeds of approximately 60 MPH northbound on Viewpoint Dr.

The suspect fled for approximately 6 to 8 miles into the Poquito Valley area. The vehicle was reported to be losing parts due to heavy front end damage sustained in the collision.

The vehicle stopped in the Poquito Valley area. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 33 year old Pete Benjamin Criner, fled into a field from his vehicle. The off duty officer gave the suspect commands that he eventually submitted to and he was taken into custody by Prescott Valley Officers who arrived a short time after the vehicle stopped.

The suspect, Criner, was processed by PVPD officers for DUI and the crime of hit and run. After a full investigation was performed officers learned Criner had a preliminary BrAC of .244.

The horses were said to have sustained several lacerations to their heads and legs in the collision.

Criner was booked into the Yavapai County Jail in Camp Verde for aggravated DUI, super extreme DUI over .20, DUI, impaired to slightest, DUI over .08, leaving the scene of an accident, failing to stop at and an accident, driving on a suspended drivers license, cruelty to animals; abandonment, and cruelty to animals recklessly causing injury.