On Wednesday night, California Highway Patrol arrested a DUI suspect that crashed into a Caltrans vehicle at a road closure. According to authorities, Highway 16 closed to contain spot fires caused by a horrendous wildfire in Amador County. CHP’s Amador division said that firefighters were battling the Copper Fire which had burned through 48 acres of land.
A Caltrans crew was in the process of moving the road closure into Amador County when they noticed a white Dodge Ram pickup truck rushing toward the closure. Authorities were also directing traffic near their parked vehicles at the time. Once it became clear that the Dodge had no intention of stopping, the officers and Caltrans crew hastily moved out of harm’s way.
As the pickup truck came closer, the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck the passenger side door of a Caltrans crew truck. The suspect sustained minor injuries and did not require any medical attention. Fortunately, no other person was harmed in the incident.
When officers at the scene of the crash examined the driver for injuries, they found that he may have been under the influence. They tried to remove him from the vehicle to conduct further assessments, but the driver tried to resist arrest and return to his truck.
One of the officers spotted a gun sticking out between the driver’s seat and the console after checking his truck. It was a loaded Taurus Judge .410 shotgun pistol. According to investigative reports, authorities later found more weapons and large amounts of ammunition in the vehicle.
DUI Driving and Guns In Tow?
As a result, officers arrested the driver on suspicion of driving under the influence and because of gun violations. They booked him into the Sacramento County Main Jail. The identity of the driver has not been released yet, but the investigation is ongoing.
If this is the defendant’s first DUI, and no one experienced serious bodily harm, it is possible that he will be only be charged with a misdemeanor. However, if this is his second offense, the penalties could be far more severe. The defendant will need a lawyer capable of offering great counsel to address potential charges. Here at the Law Offices of Taylor and Taylor, defense attorneys are well-versed in different types of DUI cases and can ensure the best possible outcome for their clients.
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