On 09/08/2016 at about 12:45 p.m., Newport Police Department School Resource Officer Watson was standing in the area of NE Eads St and NE 4th St. He observed a blue 2000 Daewoo, 4-door sedan, traveling southbound on NE Eads St. The vehicle was observed to be traveling at a high rate of speed through the school zone, and was not braking for the approaching intersection. Officer Watson pulled a school district employee away from the roadway as the vehicle approached. The vehicle crashed through the barricades on NE Eads St, between the Newport High School main and west campuses. The vehicle continued southbound as multiple pedestrians were nearly struck. Officer Watson ran to his patrol vehicle, and attempted to pursue the subject.

Due to the high rate of speed and debris, Officer Watson was unable to overtake the subject prior to the vehicle completely fleeing the area. Newport High School entered a “Code Yellow” as Newport Police Officers established a perimeter and began to conduct an investigation. The suspect was identified as Alexis “David” Yanez Gomez, age 18 of Newport. He is currently enrolled as a Senior at Newport High School. At approximately 2:35 p.m., Yanez Gomez turned himself in at the Newport Police Department. Yanez Gomez was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail and charged with Reckless Endangering; Reckless Driving; Hit and Run Vehicle-Property, and Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree. His bail was set at $60,000. Impairment is not considered to be a contributing factor to the crash.