A Storm Lake man is facing 11 separate charges following an investigation into an April 19 high-speed chase that ended when the driver rolled the vehicle. The Storm Lake Police Department reports that 26-year-old Gabriel Hernandez Palma fled after authorities attempted to initiate a traffic stop because of a disabled headlight in the early morning hours of April 19. Hernandez Palma, who was driving erratically, reached speeds up to 90 miles per hour before losing control, rolling the vehicle several times and becoming trapped inside. He was removed by mechanical means and transported to Buena Vista Regional Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. Following the investigation and test results from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation laboratory, Hernandez Palma has been charged with eluding, a class D felony, first-offense operating while intoxicated, a serious misdemeanor, and failure to use headlamps when required, failure to wear a seatbelt, speeding—75 in a 35 mile per hour zone; 80 in a 45 mile per hour zone; and 90 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone, failure to obey a traffic control device, reckless driving and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, all simple misdemeanors. Hernandez Palma was released on a promise to appear.
