Hunter
05/27/26
An Iowa City man wanted for a drag racing incident in 2025 was arrested early Tuesday on an OWI charge.
Police stopped 20-year-old Luis Nevarez Hernandez of Arbandy Lane at around 2:45am for failing to yield to traffic while making a turn near the intersection of Highway 6 and Scott Boulevard. Upon contact, the odor of ingested alcohol was reportedly discovered.
Hernandez allegedly gave a false name to officers initially, After reportedly seeing an open alcoholic beverage on the passenger floorboard, he was asked out of the vehicle. Hernandez allegedly was observed with bloodshot watery eyes and what the officer noted was “horrendous” balance. A PBT showed his breath-alcohol level at .202 percent, with a subsequent Datamaster reading of .217 percent.
Hernandez was wanted from a March 2025 incident where he allegedly was in a drag race with another individual on the 1400 block of 1st Avenue when he lost control and collided with a southbound vehicle He suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him hospitalized for several days.
An investigation into the incident found that Hernandez was traveling at approximately 75 miles per hour when the accident occurred.
He faces a number of charges, including OWI 1st offense, and providing false ID information for the Tuesday incident. Hernanzed is also charged with Serious Injury by Vehicle, OWI, failure to maintain control, failure to provide financial liability insurance, no valid driver’s license, failure to use seat belt, and speeding. If convicted on the criminal charges, Hernandez could face a prison sentence of over seven years.