Agencies Work Together in Hit and Run Case
from:City Of Modesto category:Government and Politics posted:April 24th, 2008MODESTO, CA – Three law enforcement agencies worked together today during a hit and run investigation that left a 51-year-old bicyclist in the hospital with severe injuries.
Friday, April 18, 2008 at about 9:30 am, a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s detective was driving on Crows Landing Road near Imperial Avenue when he saw a pick-up truck collide with a bicyclist in the northbound lanes of Crows Landing Road. The truck then made a u-turn on Crows Landing Road, dragging the bicyclist underneath.
The bicyclist was freed from underneath the truck but the driver, later identified as 29-year-old Modesto resident Emiliano Maldonado Jr., did not stop. Maldonado fled the scene southbound on Crows Landing Road with the Sheriff’s detective in pursuit. Other Sheriff’s units joined in the pursuit that later ended in Turlock where the suspect lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a field.
A Sheriff’s Sergeant who was involved in the pursuit collided into a power pole at the intersection of N. Central Avenue and E. Taylor Road where the pursuit ended. The sergeant was transported to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto as a precaution but was not seriously injured.
Deputies at the scene located a small amount of marijuana in the suspect’s vehicle. Maldonado will be tested for drug and alcohol influence. The investigation is continuing, however, Maldonado is expected to face charges of felony hit and run and failure to yield to pursuing officers. The bicyclist was transported by ambulance to Doctors Medical Center with severe injuries. He is expected to survive and recover from his injuries.
The Modesto Police Department Traffic Unit responded to Crows Landing Road to investigate the initial hit and run collision. The California Highway Patrol is investigating Maldonado’s collision in Turlock. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department is investigating Maldonado for the pursuit and failing to yield to deputies.
Witnesses to the hit and run, or anyone else with information about this incident, is asked to call Modesto Police Traffic Officer Doug Girepp at (209) 572-572-9703. For information about this news release, contact Modesto Police Sergeant Craig Gundlach at (209) 652-3184 or Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deputy Royjindar Singh at (209) 652-6597.
Sergeant Craig Gundlach
Modesto Police Department
Media Relations
(209) 572-9579
(209) 652-3184
