A single-car crash on Union Road sent the driver to the hospital
and took down a telephone pole late Tuesday night, the California
Highway Patrol said.
Miguel Mendoza, 25, was traveling south on Union Road and for
unknown reasons turned his vehicle and lost control, according to a
CHP report.
A single-car crash on Union Road sent the driver to the hospital and took down a telephone pole late Tuesday night, the California Highway Patrol said.
Miguel Mendoza, 25, was traveling south on Union Road and for unknown reasons turned his vehicle and lost control, according to a CHP report.
Around 11:30 p.m. his 1997 Pontiac ran off the road and struck a power pole, coming to rest on the driver’s side, according to the report.
Mendoza, a resident of Prosser, Wash., was assessed by the responding officer to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, said CHP Officer Terry Mayes.
He was also driving on a suspended license and officers found a handgun located next to the vehicle, according to the report.
The weapon the CHP recovered and now have in evidence was a 5-shot Charter Arms handgun. Prior to the accident, shots were heard in the area, but police are unsure whether the two events are related, Mayes said.
Whether the handgun retrieved was loaded is also not known.
Mendoza suffered a fractured left thumb, lacerations to his head and other bumps and scratches, Mayes said.
“It is assumed he was visiting (Hollister),” Mayes said.
When Mendoza’s car hit the power pole, wires were down around the vehicle and he was trapped inside, Mayes said.
“PG&E responded and turned off the power lines,” Mayes said. “Either by himself or with the (California Department of Forestry’s) help he got out of the car.”
Mendoza was transported to Hazel Hawkins Hospital via ambulance and was arrested for drunk driving and driving with a suspended license, Mayes said.
He was treated, released and taken into custody at the San Benito County Jail.
He was released from jail on his own recognizance Wednesday morning and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 3.
