(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The driver of an SUV was injured when his vehicle crashed Saturday night as it was being chased by a pickup truck in Guthrie County. According to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, at around 10:30-p.m., Guthrie County Dispatch received an automated severe crash detection notification from an iPhone. The message relayed the coordinates of the crash, with an accuracy radius of three-meters. The coordinates turned out to be in the 300 block of S. 1st Street, in Guthrie Center. Deputy Kent Gries and another deputy responded to the scene.

Upon his arrival Deputy Gries found a 2014 Nissan Rogue owned by the Los Altos Mexican Restaurant, LLC., and driven by 20-year-old Hilario Ramos. The vehicle – which had sustained severe passenger side damage -was observed crashed against a concrete barrier, with the passenger side curtain airbags deployed. Ramos was still in the vehicle, his seat belt on, and appeared to be unconscious. The Deputy was able to get Ramos’ attention and escort him to the patrol vehicle. Ramos was subsequently transported by Panora EMS to Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines for treatment of serious/incapacitating injuries.

An investigation determined Ramos was being chased by a 2004 Chevy pickup driven by 42-year-old Juan Manuel Trevino, of Coon Rapids, who had left the scene after finding Ramos unconscious after the crash. Trevino was found at his residence and interviewed. During the interview he admitted to chasing Ramos and seeing the SUV he was driving go out of control and strike the concrete barrier. It’s not clear why Trevino was chasing Ramos.

Trevino failed to contact the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office at any point in the investigation, nor did he report the incident.  No charges were filed as of the latest information. Damage to the SUV was estimated at $15,000. A mailbox owned by Concrete Supply in Guthrie Center sustained $50 damage during the collision.