A suspected drunk driver pulled out in front of a San Benito
County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was driving after 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.
A suspected drunk driver pulled out in front of a San Benito County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was driving after 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.
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 damaged the front, according to the CHP.
According to fire officials, the woman was extricated from the car and she didn’t know what had happened, which led firefighters to call for CALSTAR. However, due to weather conditions, the suspect was taken to Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and was cleared. Afterward, the suspect was arrested on felony DUI charges and booked into the county jail. She has not been charged at this point by the district attorney’s office.
The deputy suffered a contusion to the back of his head and complained of pain but was later released by medical officials.
Both the suspect’s car and the sheriff’s cruiser were totaled in the accident. Hollister code enforcement showed up at the scene and recommended that damaged parts of the building be boarded up. It appeared as though some windows and a door were damaged on the restaurant building.
Lt. Roy Iler said the deputy involved in the accident is not on administrative leave. He is expected to return to work on Thursday or Friday, barring any unforeseen medical issues.
