It appears two pedestrians were struck and severely injured by a drunk driver on March 20, 2016 in Fontana, California. The incident took place as the pedestrians headed toward the Auto Club Speedway. Unwilling to stop after the scene, the driver then fled into a crowded street where he struck multiple vehicles caught in traffic.
The driver, Jose Angel Martinez, 41, was later captured after escaping law enforcement. According to his jail records, his charges included the hit-and-run damages, evading police, and driving under the influence.
Martinez arrived at the Auto Club Speedway Sunday morning, where his drinking began an hour and a half before the races started. At around 11:10am Martinez then continued to drive his Chevy Silverado out of the Auto Club Speedway’s lot, where he headed west onto Napa Avenue. This is where Martinez swerved off Napa Avenue’s road, and into a stream of pedestrians taking the sidewalk to the speedway. This occurrence left two pedestrians suffering broken bones, whereas one had to continue in ICU to treat internal bleeding.
Martinez fled the hit-and-run by heading right, and toward Etiwanda Avenue. Here he found himself at an intersection with traffic paused before a red light. Martinez rushed into the traffic, causing a rear-end domino effect of vehicular damage. Though authorities have not gathered a full count on the wounded, several people were rushed to the local hospital for considerable injuries.
The deputy monitoring traffic at the intersection was the first law enforcement officer to respond, and began to pursue Martinez. According to the tailing deputy, Martinez raced northward in Etiwanda’s southbound lanes while pushing 80 mph in his truck. It was not until Martinez found himself caught in packed northbound lanes did he stop. Authorities proceeded to capture Martinez, who refused arrest.
