Investigators with the Hollister Police Department are trying to
unravel what led to a three-car accident Sunday on San Juan Road
that injured five people, including three children.
Investigators with the Hollister Police Department are trying to unravel what led to a three-car accident Sunday on San Juan Road that injured five people, including three children.
The three boys, ages 4 and 3 years and a 7-month-old infant, were all taken to Hazel Hawkins Hospital where they were treated for complaint of mouth pain and various scrapes and bruises, police said.
Because of their ages, the names of the youths were not released by police.
Felipe Islas and Teresa Islas, both of Hollister, were taken by helicopter to San Jose Medical Center where they were being treated for injuries sustained in the accident, including possible internal injuries, police said.
All five were injured in a noontime accident Sunday on San Juan Road near the intersection with Rajkovich Way.
The 12:24 p.m. accident happened when Martin Ortiz, 18, of Hollister, who was driving a 1989 Eagle coupe, was pulling out of a parking lot and trying to make a left turn into the eastbound lane of San Juan Road, police said.
Ortiz reportedly pulled directly in front of a 2000 Dodge Caravan driven by Garciela Zendejas, 38, of Hollister. Zendejas, who reportedly could not avoid the accident, struck the Eagle, police said.
The force of the collision caused Zendejas’ minivan, carrying the three youths, to swerve into the westbound lane of San Juan Road where it rolled onto its passenger side, police said.
The minivan landed directly in front of a red 1991 Honda Accord driven by Felipe Islas, police said. Islas had no time to react and his vehicle struck the overturned Caravan, police said.
While the dust from the accident was beginning to settle, Ortiz allegedly jumped out of his damaged car and fled the scene on foot, reportedly trying to hide behind the Hollister Super market, police said.
However, two witnesses to the accident reportedly saw Ortiz running away, chased him down and held him until officers arrived, police said.
Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run and driving without a license, police said.
