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NEW YEAR'S DAY CRASH Police: DUII crash left passenger paralyzed from neck down Driver held on assault charges Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 13, 2016 at 5:17 PM Updated Jan 13, 2016 at 5:23 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 13, 2016 at 5:17 PM Updated Jan 13, 2016 at 5:23 PM » Social News A driver faces multiple charges after Central Point police said a New Year's Day rollover crash left one of his passengers paralyzed from the neck down. Kevin Charles Grimes, who turned 44 the day of the crash, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Jackson County Circuit Court to charges of second-degree assault, third-degree assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving. The Cala Mesa, Calif., resident is being held in the Jackson County Jail on $300,000 bail. According to an affidavit by Central Point police, Grimes was allegedly driving near Old Upton Road and Teresa Way in Central Point when he tried to negotiate a corner and lost control of the vehicle. Police responded to the scene and allegedly found Grimes standing near the vehicle. Officers said he had slurred speech, a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and bloodshot and watery eyes. Opened and unopened cans of beer were allegedly scattered around the crash scene. Police said Grimes told them he drank three tall cans of beer before the crash. Police saw a passenger still in the vehicle who wasn't moving. When emergency medical workers arrived, 44-year-old passenger Richard Salmon told them he could not feel his extremities, the affidavit said. Salmon was transported by ambulance to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and underwent emergency surgery, the affidavit said. "I was advised he suffered a traumatic neck injury that would cause him to be paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life," a Central Point police lieutenant wrote in the affidavit. Grimes was taken to Providence Medford Medical Center for treatment and then lodged in jail after he was medically cleared, the affidavit said. A second passenger, Jeffrey Davis, allegedly fled the crash scene but was later hospitalized at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. A Central Point detective questioned Davis, who said Grimes had been drinking and driving. Davis suffered head and facial injuries, the affidavit said. Information about what injuries Grimes may have suffered in the crash wasn't immediately available. He was wearing a neck brace in his jail booking photo. He was no longer wearing the neck brace for his Wednesday court date, where he appeared via television monitor from jail. Grimes has a pre-trial conference hearing scheduled for Jan. 25. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 13, 2016 at 5:17 PM Updated Jan 13, 2016 at 5:23 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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