News release from the Newport PD. On 04/06/2015 at about 8:35 p.m., Newport Police Officers responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of NE Benton and NE 6th Streets. One of the vehicles had crashed into a house in the 600 Block of NE Benton Street. During their investigation, Officers learned that Matea Pablo-Lucas, age 35 of Newport, was driving a 1998 Chevrolet cargo van north on NE Benton Street. Pablo-Lucas failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection with NE 6th Street, and collided with a 2003 Honda Civic driven east-bound on NE 6th Street by Jesus Fernandez-Galicia, age 21 of Newport. After colliding with Fernandez-Galicia’s vehicle, Pablo-Lucas’ van veered off the roadway and through the yard of 612 NE Benton Street, hitting the house. The owners of the house had just put their two children to bed. Their 6 year-old child’s bedroom took the full impact of the van’s collision with the house. The impact site was a few feet from their child’s bed. The House received structural damage to the exterior and interior walls. No one was injured in the crash. An ambulance was summoned to transport Pablo-Lucas to Good Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital, following a complaint of discomfort. Fernandez-Galicia was issued a citation for No Oregon Driver License. Pablo-Lucas was arrested at the hospital on six counts of Recklessly Endangering, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Reckless Driving, and Fail to Carry and Present an Operator’s License. She was cited and released at the hospital. The Newport Police Department was assisted by the Newport Fire Department and PacWest Ambulance.
