Former Firefighter’s Case Sent to Grand Jury
One of the alleged victims is still in the trauma unit at UK Hospital.
Jarad McCargo is accused of crashing into the front of the Beer Trappe on Euclid Avenue then driving off last Friday night.
He was a Lexington firefighter until the city fired him Monday for his involvement in the accident.
McCargo was in court again Friday morning. The judge is sending his case to a grand jury.
At the hearing, a collision reconstruction unit officer who was at the accident testified, explaining the on-going police investigation.
The officer said McCargo’s blood alcohol level was 0.119 about 50 minutes after the crash.
He said McCargo used his Fifth Amendment right not to talk after he was arrested but then told officers that if he had known the victim’s injuries were so bad, he wouldn’t have left the scene.
The officer said the alleged victim, Noel Espino, was standing on the sidewalk outside The Beer Trappe when he was pinned between McCargo’s SUV and the building.
The officer said Espino has had six or seven surgeries so far and needs more.
Two other people were sent to the hospital after the crash with shoulder and ankle injuries but both were released that night.
The CRU officer said McCargo was out with his wife Friday night. He said they had one drink and his wife was the designated driver. The officer said after an argument over parking, the two switched drivers and that’s when McCargo tried to parallel park but instead slammed into the building.
McCargo drove off and was found hiding behind trashcans after his wife returned to the bar and told police what happened.
McCargo’s attorneys call the accident a tragic situation.
His bond was lowered to $1,300 but if that is paid he will have to wear an ankle monitor and have random drug and alcohol tests.
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