Sioux Falls man facing charges after Lake County accident

A Sioux Falls man is facing charges in Lake County after rolling the vehicle he was driving and damaging some mailboxes early Wednesday morning.  The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reports that just before 5:00 Wednesday morning, law enforcement found a 2006 Dodge Caravan with no driver present that had been northbound on South Dakota Highway 19 near the intersection with 237th Street and had rolled into the west ditch.  The vehicle was unoccupied and nobody was around the vehicle.  The initial investigation determined that the vehicle was traveling north, lost control and struck three mailboxes before going into the west ditch and rolling.  The Sheriff’s Office searched the area, but did not find the driver of the van.  

Sheriff Tim Walburg said that the Sheriff’s Office received a phone call later that day concerning the driver of the vehicle.  He said it was reported that the vehicle was taken without permission by a friend.  At around 2:00 Wednesday afternoon, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office located the driver of the vehicle, 31-year-old Domingo Alvarez Perez, in Madison.  During the investigation, the driver admitted to losing control of the vehicle and rolling it into the ditch.  Alvarez Perez wasn’t licensed to drive and had no insurance.  Walburg said that during the arrest from the crash investigation, it was discovered that Alvarez Perez had fake and forged documents in his possession.  He also admitted that he had no permission to use the vehicle.  Alvarez-Perez was lodged at the Lake County Detention Center on charges of Hit and Run, No Driver License, Failure to Report Accident, No Insurance, Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle, and Possession of Forged Documents with Intent to Defraud.  The vehicle was listed as a total loss and was towed away.  His bond was established at $500 cash or surety.

June 17, 2022