Predawn DUI crash in Northport leaves 1 critically injured; driver jailed on assault charges

Predawn DUI crash in Northport leaves 1 critically injured; driver jailed on assault charges

A predawn DUI crash in Tuscaloosa County left one person critically injured and another in jail.

Northport police responded to the two-vehicle wreck at 3:30 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of McFarland Boulevard and Highway 69 in Northport.

Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy said one of the vehicles was occupied by three people and the other had two occupants.

The vehicle with three occupants had been struck, which left two of them with minor injuries.

The second vehicle, which investigators said struck the other vehicle, contained the driver and a passenger, Kennedy said. The passenger was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham and is in critical but stable condition.

The driver, Justin Gachoya, is alleged to have been at fault for the crash and was suspected as being under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, Kennedy said.

The Violent Crimes Unit took over the investigation and, after processing the crash site, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses, obtained warrants against Gachoya.

He is charged with one count of first-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, and DUI.

Gachoya remains in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on bonds totaling $38,0000.