Pierce County - On January 1, 2011 at 05:37 a.m., 36 year-old Benjamin Cabral was driving the wrong way on State Route 512 and struck another Motorist head-on near Portland Ave. Cabral was first reported driving the wrong way near Steele St. and continued east bound for over 3 miles before a collision occurred. Cabral was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Pick-up.  Miguel Salinas of Lakewood was driving a 1998 GMC Pick-up westbound on State Route 512 and was struck head-on by Cabral. Troopers responded to the collision scene and developed probable cause that Cabral was under the influence of alcohol.  Cabral was placed under arrest for vehicular assault and a blood test was administered.

Both Cabral and Salinas sustained serious injuries during the collision, however they both are expected to survive.  There was a 23 year-old female passenger in Salinas’s vehicle and she escaped with minor injuries.

Making the choice to drive impaired can change your life or the life of someone else in an instant.  The Washington State Patrol works diligently to remove impaired drivers from the roadways of our State.  Please don’t drink and drive.