CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Northshore man was arrested Saturday in connection to a vehicle crash that injured a woman.
Joseph Raymond Pimentel, 25, of Nice was arrested on several charges in connection to the wreck, which occurred early Saturday afternoon, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph of the Clearlake Police Department.
Joseph said that at about 1:20 p.m. Saturday Clearlake Police officers responded to a report of a two-vehicle traffic collision with injuries on 19th Avenue near Boyles Avenue.
When officers arrived, one vehicle – a silver Nissan Altima – was found blocking the roadway and the other vehicle, a silver Dodge Ram 2500, was found in the front yard of a residence at this intersection, Joseph said.
Lake County Fire Protection District personnel arrived on scene and began treating the adult female driver in the Altima, according to Joseph.
Joseph said several witnesses identified Pimentel as the driver of the Dodge truck. Pimentel was on scene, however, he initially denied being a driver.
Witnesses claimed that after the collision, Pimentel fled from the Dodge truck on foot. Joseph said Pimentel was captured by witnesses and a brief struggle occurred, during which Pimentel sustained several facial injuries.
Pimentel was escorted back to the scene of the collision where he was contacted by officers, Joseph said.
Joseph said Pimentel was exhibiting symptoms of intoxication and ultimately was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The other driver suffered internal injuries and a broken arm. She was transported by ambulance to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for medical treatment and has since been released, Joseph said.
Joseph said both vehicles were towed from the scene.
After Pimentel’s arrest, he was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake by police for medical clearance. While at the hospital, officers collected evidence from Pimentel showing his blood alcohol content to be more than the legal limit of 0.08 percent, Joseph said.
Once he was medically cleared, Pimentel was transported and booked into the Lake County Jail on felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury and driving under the influence of alcohol over a 0.08 percent blood alcohol content causing great bodily injury, and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license, Joseph said.
He was booked with bail set at $30,000. Jail records indicated he later posted the required portion of bail and was released.
Anyone with information on this collision is asked to contact Officer Mark Harden at 707-994-8251, Extension 503.
Northshore man arrested for DUI causing injury
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