Man In Detox Crashes Into Car; Stabs Driver, Himself

MURRIETTA (CBS) — Authorities say a man going through detoxification intentionally drove his car head-on into another car, stabbed the other driver, then stabbed himself in the neck with a cordless drill.

Garrie Apengren, Jr., 38, of Menifee, was bleeding from the neck as a result of drill wounds as passersby tried to restrain him in the 322000 block of Safflower Street in unincorporated French Valley, Riverside sheriff's Sgt. Jon Wade said. Apengren was taken into custody then to a local hospital.

Deputies learned that Apengren was going through detoxification from pain medication and had not slept in three or four days. As a result, Apengren was hallucinating and intentionally driving his car head-on into another car, injuring 2 people, Wade said. He also stabbed the driver with an unknown object and tried to stab the passenger.

Apengren was placed on a mental evaluation hold and was expected to be booked at the Southwest Detention Center on four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, the sergeant said.

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