Update: Arraignment Delayed Tuesday for Driver Who Crashed Into Apartments

Update 9:27 p.m. Tuesday: Arraignment was delayed Tuesday for a man accused of crashing a car into a Ramona apartment building while high on aerosol fumes, seriously injuring a woman inside.

Charles Wayne Scott, 20, of Imperial was arrested and booked into jail Friday on suspicion of felony driving while intoxicated and misdemeanor hit-and- run with property damage, according to the California Highway Patrol and jail records.

Scott was expected to be released from custody, said Tanya Sierra of the District Attorney's Office. Authorities have yet to meet with prosecutors. If prosecutors decide to charge Scott, he will be given a date to return to court, the spokeswoman said.

Shortly before 11:30 a.m. Friday, Scott was driving a 2005 Ford Focus northbound on La Brea Street when the car veered off the western edge of the roadway and hit a road sign near Day Street, CHP Officer Brian Pennings said.

The car then careened into a parking lot and sideswiped another car before smashing into the Canyon Crest apartment building.

A woman inside the structure suffered moderately serious injuries from the impact, which left the front end of Scott's car partially pushed into a residence, Pennings said. Medics airlifted her to a trauma center.

Scott, who was not wearing a seat belt, was taken to a hospital for evaluation of apparently minor head trauma, including a bruised forehead, according to Pennings.

Physical evidence and a witness statement indicated that he was under the influence of some type of "inhalant" chemical at the time of the accident, Pennings said without elaboration.

Assistant Apartment Manager Valerie Cechvala told reporters on Friday that the kitchen areas of at least two downstairs apartment units were damaged in the crash and inspectors would be checking them out, along with two units directly above them. She said vacant units were available for displaced residents.

-- City News Service