Police: Iowa woman was drunk when her car crashed into man on ATV, crushing his pelvis

A man's pelvis was crushed last month after a drunken driver crashed into the ATV that he was riding on, police say.

The victim was trying to avoid contact with the SUV Misty Sorter, 39, of Des Moines was driving late last month when she slammed into the off-road vehicle. He survived his injuries but will require multiple surgeries, court records show.

Sorter has been charged will willful injury causing in serious injury, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, second offense and intimidation with a deadly weapon. A no-contact order between Sorter and the victim is in effect, court records show.

Police say Sorter was in her SUV at about 9:10 p.m. May 31 when she came across several people on ATVs near Southeast 25th and Maury streets. Sorter swerved in the direction of the smaller vehicles, according to a criminal complaint from Des Moines police, and even left the roadway to try to hit one of them.

The ATV riders went off the road and avoided Sorter by driving through grassy areas near buildings, according to the report. Sorter caught up with the ATVs on Southeast 18th Street.

More Iowa news:

• Des Moines bar owner calls city 'bully,' sues Des Moines for $12.5 million
• 5 protesters arrested outside Trump fundraiser in central Iowa
• Adoptive grandmother of Sabrina Ray back in prison after escaping last month
• It's true: Iowa law requires dealers to first pay taxes before selling illegal drugs. But is it fair?

One of the motorists was trying to help the other riders avoid Sorter when she drove her Chrysler Pacifica into the man, pushing his ATV into a railroad crossing arm, police say. The man was hospitalized for a broken right pelvis.

When an officer spoke with Sorter after the incident, he observed she smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes, the report states. She told police she felt the ATV riders were chasing her and she did not mean to hit anyone. Sorter admitted to taking two shots about 10 minutes before driving and took a field sobriety test, during which she showed "several signs of impairment," police say.

Sorter's blood-alcohol levels measured at .147 and .124, both above the legal limit of .08. She is next due in court on July 19. The person listed as Sorter's attorney, Ronald Langford, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Follow the Register on Facebook and Twitter for more news. Tyler Davis can be contacted at 515-284-8378, tjdavis@dmreg.com or on Twitter @TDavisDMR.