The alleged driver of the vehicle that caused an estimated $150,000 in damage to Penny Playground, 23-year-old Juan F. Cozar, was officially referred to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office on driving under the influence and hit-and-run charges after the Chehalis Police Department received toxicology test results earlier this week.
Cozar is accused of leaving the roadway at the intersection of Southwest Parkland Drive and Northwest Interstate Avenue, driving through the Penny Playground fence and striking playground equipment before fleeing his vehicle on foot at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 27. Law enforcement later located Cozar and transported him to a hospital for medical treatment. He is currently out of custody.
The playground reopened on Friday.
