PALO ALTO — A driver has been arrested after sideswiping a police car and crashing into a tree while attempting to flee sideshow activity in November, resulting in two injuries and a small dog being euthanized, according to authorities.
An arrest warrant was issued March 8 for a 26-year-old East Palo Alto man on four felonies in connection with the sideshow: evading causing serious bodily injury, driving under the influence of alcohol while causing bodily injury to another person, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs while causing bodily injury. He was taken into custody at the end of the month.
The driver and female passenger of the vehicle, who wasn’t charged, were both injured in the crash last year.
On Nov. 26 at about 1:06 a.m. near the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, at least four cars were spotted by police involved in sideshow activity, according to Palo Alto police. After officers arrived at the scene, a driver started to flee on westbound on Embarcadero Road “at a high rate of speed.”
The person driving a red 2013 Chevrolet Camaro sideswiped the front left tire on a patrol car, evading a head-on crash by inches, police said. The driver continued west before hitting a tree on the north side of the 1900 block of Embarcadero Road. Police said in the initial press release that they didn’t pursue any of the other cars but clarified Friday that after the crash with the tree, an officer pursued the remaining fleeing drivers “for a matter of seconds” on Embarcadero Road before they escaped on Highway 101. Police haven’t been able to identify the other cars or their drivers and occupants.
Rescue workers gave medical aid to the driver and passenger inside the Chevrolet Camaro, who weren’t wearing seat belts and had major injuries, police said. Both were in intensive car at a hospital and released. A small dog also inside the car was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital but had to be euthanized due to having major injuries.
Detectives said they weren’t able to find the driver throughout March in order to serve a warrant for his arrest. On March 30 at about 6 p.m., Redwood City Police Department officers found the man during a traffic stop on University Avenue at Runnymede Street in East Palo Alto, in which he was a passenger of the vehicle. He was booked into the Santa Clara County Mail Jail.
Like other cities in the Bay Area, Palo Alto has been grappling with sideshows, which can involve hundreds of people and spectators, as well as speeding, doughnuts and other kinds of dangerous driving.
Sideshow activity has also seen a surge during the pandemic after lockdown and stay-at-home orders resulted in more empty streets and parking lots.
Last June, San Jose because the first city in the U.S. to make it a crime to promote or encourage sideshows on social media. Violators could face six months in jail, fines up to $1,000 or be charged with a misdemeanor.
Police have asked anyone with more information about this incident is asked to call their 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413, email paloalto@tipnow.org or send a text or voicemail to 650-383-8984.
Source: www.mercurynews.com