OAKHURST – A crash that happened near North Fork today led officers to a suspect some 13 miles away in Oakhurst, where he was subsequently arrested.
Just before 2 p.m., reports came in to CHP of a vehicle overturned down an embankment on Road 223 just south of Pinchot Drive. A witness reported seeing a man walking away from the crash scene with a baby in his arms.
CHP responded to the scene and found a Mitsubishi Montero laying on its side off the roadway. Tire marks showed that the driver had driven straight off the left side of the road, smashed into several large boulders and rolled down the steep embankment, scattering debris and pieces of car all along the way.
Officers learned that a Good Samaritan had picked the driver up and given him a ride to Oakhurst.
Norman Sanchez, 29, of Oakhurst, was located by CHP in the Raley’s parking lot.
When questioned by officers, Sanchez admitted to having wrecked the car, and reportedly smelled of alcohol. It was also determined that his infant daughter was in the vehicle at the time of accident.
Sierra Ambulance responded to the Raley’s parking lot and checked the baby for injuries, whereupon Sanchez was promptly taken into custody for DUI after officers determined this was an alcohol-related incident.
Sanchez’s daughter was released to her mother at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation.
