Arcata Hit-and-Run
I’m Ed Smith, an Arcata CA car accident lawyer. On Tuesday, August 29, 2017, an Arcata hit-and-run left a local apartment building with major damages and forced the family living there to move out.
Accident Info
According to the Arcata Police Department (APD) Sgt. Hoffman, the accident occurred at around 8:30 p.m. when a vehicle driving on the 3100 block of St. Louis Road close to the Highway 101 overpass veered off of the roadway for unknown reasons. After driving off of the road, the vehicle continued over the sidewalk, through a yard, and into the side of an apartment.
After colliding with the apartment, the vehicle backed up and drove away, turning the incident into a hit-and-run. No information has been reported so far about the color, make, or model of the vehicle.
Damages
The collision caused major damages to the building destroying almost an entire wall of the apartment. Hoffman indicated that the family living in the apartment had to temporarily move out due to safety concerns. Pictures taken of the apartment show a large blue tarp covering up the massive hole left by the errant vehicle.
Investigation
Officers are currently conducting an investigation in order to find the vehicle that caused the accident. Authorities noted that, while the accident almost certainly involved reckless driving, it is likely that the driver may have been driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Call to Action
The APD has asked that individuals who may have information that could help them locate the driver or vehicle that left the scene of the crash contact them by calling the non-emergency APD phone line, (707) 822-2428. Officers indicated that any available information would be greatly appreciated.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
In California, it is considered a crime to leave the scene after you are involved in a vehicle collision as a driver. Drivers who do so can be charged with either misdemeanor or felony counts of hit-and-run. The severity of the charges is dependent on factors such as property damage, traumatic injuries, and fatal injuries.
Property Damage Hit-and-Run
Leaving an accident scene after causing property damage is a less severe charge than hit-and-runs involving traumatic injuries. However, drivers who cause property damage and leave the scene are still liable to pay for damages they’ve caused in addition to hefty fines.
Another Recent Arcata Collision
This accident has occurred only a short while after another accident in Arcata which occurred on August 13, 2017. The accident involved a cyclist who lost control of his bicycle and crashed on the side of the road on Elizabeth Drive close to the intersection of West End Road at about 1:30 p.m. The cyclist sustained fatal injuries as a result of the accident.
Related Blogs by Arcata CA Car Accident Lawyer, Ed Smith:
Arcata CA Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Arcata car accident lawyer. Drivers who cause accidents can be held responsible. If you’ve suffered damages or injuries because of a negligent driver, call (707) 564-1900 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach me online here.
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Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, “California Highway Patrol” by Steven Straiton. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
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