San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill commented on this
weekend’s accident involving a department patrol car and a
suspected drunk driver, and said the deputy had been attempting to
overtake, or get behind, another possible drunk driver after that
resident had been seen going an estimated 55 or 60 MPH and crossing
over the center line.
”
It’s pretty obvious,
”
he said.
HOLLISTER
A suspected drunk driver pulled out in front of a San Benito County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was pursuing a vehicle for a traffic stop at 2:15 a.m. Sunday, totaling both cars involved and also damaging the El Grullense restaurant building on the 900 block of Fourth Street.
The deputy was pulling out of the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office parking lot on Fourth Street when he noticed a car traveling westbound at a high rate of speed, according to authorities. The deputy turned on his lights and attempted to catch the vehicle.
San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill said the deputy was attempting to overtake, or get behind, a possible drunk driver after that driver had been seen going an estimated 55 or 60 MPH and crossing over the center line.
“It’s pretty obvious,” he said.
Hill said that going 65 MPH down Fourth Street at 2:15 a.m. was “well within our policy.”
“He was going down the road well lit up.”
The California Highway Patrol reported that the deputy was traveling at a speed of 65 MPH. When the deputy got to the intersection of Line and Fourth streets, a 19-year-old Hollister female driver pulled out into the intersection. The deputy tried to avoid the suspect’s car but couldn’t and struck the Volkswagen Jetta on the left side.
The collision caused the deputy’s Dodge Charger – one of two marked vehicles recently acquired by the office – to run into the side of the restaurant while the Jetta was damaged in the front. As for the high rate of speed, Hill said that it was OK to go that fast.
“It’s the middle of the night,” he said. “Every officer has done that chasing drunk drivers.”
He added that preliminarily, there were no rules broken by the deputy.
For the expanded story, see the Pinnacle on Friday. For the prior story with details on the accident, go here.
Below is the latest edition of The News and You, with this installment focusing on local roads.
