On today’s date (04-25-17), at approximately 12:06am, the New Braunfels Police Department was called to the 500 block of Main Plaza in downtown New Braunfels for reports of a vehicle crash. A red Chevrolet Impala had been traveling north on South Seguin Avenue and failed to slow down or turn as it approached the traffic circle at the Main Plaza. The vehicle then left the roadway, continued through a set of metal bollards, went airborne over a portion of the Main Plaza fountain, struck more metal bollards on the north end of the Plaza, before coming to a stop on a concrete traffic median on the other side of the Plaza (at the intersection of North Seguin Avenue and Main Plaza). The vehicle suffered extensive damage and there was damage to the bollards and the fountain.
Immediately following the crash, the driver of the vehicle attempted to flee the scene on foot but was stopped by two off duty police officers who happened to be in the area. On duty NBPD officers and New Braunfels Fire and EMS arrived at the scene and transported the driver to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital – New Braunfels as a precaution. After the driver was medically cleared by hospital staff, officers performed a series of standard field sobriety tests and a No Refusal blood draw was performed. The driver was then taken into custody and charged with DWI 3rd or More (due to previous DWI convictions). 32-year old George Towner of Austin was then taken to the Comal County Jail and booked on that 3rd degree felony charge.
The City of New Braunfels Parks Department was notified of the damage to the Main Plaza so that repairs can be made.