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Drunken Driver Hits County Building, Critically Injures Passenger

Tarrant County Wreck
A passenger was critically injured in this Fort Worth wreck on Feb. 19, 2012. An intoxicated man slammed into a Tarrant County building, police say. (Credit: Brian Luenser)

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – An intoxicated man was speeding along West Belknap St. when he ran a red light and slammed into the Tarrant County Criminal Courts Building, critically injuring his female passenger Sunday, according to a police incident report.

Jeremy Sturch, 28, was charged with Intoxication Assault causing Brain Injury – Vegetative State and is in Fort Worth Police custody while hospitalized at John Peter Smith Hospital.

The police report says Sturch was speeding northbound on W. Belknap St. at about 2 a.m. A sergeant was driving westbound and saw that the driver was not going to stop for the red light.

She slammed on her brakes while Sturch's truck hopped a curb and flew into the Tarrant County Courts Building head on, the police report says.

The passenger, a female victim who has not been identified, was critically injured. She remains in the hospital in critical condition Sunday evening. If she dies, Sturch will be charged with Intoxication Manslaughter, the report says.

Tarrant County spokesman Marc Flake said the damage to the building happened on a side not used by the public, so it will not hamper business on Tuesday. The building is closed on Monday for President's Day.

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