The driver of a vehicle that ended-up in the Boyer River last month now faces a felony charge of Motor Vehicle Homicide/OWI, and four serious misdemeanor counts of providing alcohol to a person under age. Authorities say 25-year old Ramon Hernandez, of Denison, drove through a farm field with four teenagers in his car before it plunged into the Boyer River during the early morning hours of Jan. 19th.

Hernandez was originally arrested January 23rd and charged with three counts of distributing a controlled substance to a minor, and one count of distributing a controlled substance to an adult, in connection to the crash. Each of the prior charges were felony offenses. Hernandez also faces charges of reckless driving, driving while suspended and failure to maintain control.

A passenger in the car, 15-year old Yoana Acosta, of Denison, was found in the Boyer River after a week-long search by numerous agencies and volunteers. Three other passengers, along with Hernandez, were able to escape to safety.

Crawford County Attorney Roger Sailer filed the new charges in district court yesterday (Thursday). The county attorney also formalized the charges for which Hernandez was arrested on January 23rd.