When someone gets into an accident, the instinct to fight or fly can be overwhelming. If there wasn’t a nearby law enforcement officer or eyewitnesses, it might be tempting to flee the scene. However, the consequences of leaving the scene can make the situation even more serious when that person is caught. Leaving the scene can mean additional charges, fees, and even more jail time.
MSN reports that the crash happened just before 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, when a motorist was spotted driving erratically near the intersection of Railroad Avenue and 15th Street in Newhall. Even though it was early in the morning, the man was spotted drinking what appeared to be an alcoholic beverage.
Deputy Natalie Arriaga with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Santa Clarita Valley Station told reporters in an updated statement that the unidentified suspect “…collided with a parked vehicle on Railroad Avenue and left the scene without attempting to exchange information with the registered owner.”
Sheriff’s deputies later found the suspect in the parking lot of a nearby shopping center located in the 4800 block of Railroad Avenue. According to Deputy Arriaga, deputies at the scene detected a strong scent of alcohol on the suspect’s breath and body.
“Standardized sobriety tests were performed,” Arriaga said in the statement. A blood-alcohol test revealed that the suspect had a BAC of 0.276 percent – more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
The suspect was arrested at the scene on the charges of DUI misdemeanor hit-and-run. Later that morning, he was booked into the San Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Deputy Arriaga said that the SCV Valley Sheriff’s Station released the suspect with a citation on Wednesday, May 18.
