REDDING, Calif. — A man on felony probation was arrested after allegedly fleeing the scene of a head-on traffic collision in Redding Wednesday afternoon, June 10.
Two people inside the vehicle the man ran into were injured, including one who was hospitalized after the crash, which happened on the 200 block of Hilltop Dr. The victims’ injuries were described as minor.
Redding police and fire officials were dispatched to the scene of the crash around 3:30 p.m., after receiving reports of a hit and run traffic collision, Redding Police Cpl. Jon Sheldon later said of the crash and subsequent arrest.
When officials arrived at the scene they found two wrecked vehicles, described as a black Ford F150 with major front-end damage and white passenger van with major front and driver’s side damage.
Officers also learned the driver of the pickup truck who caused the collision had fled the scene prior to their arrival.
Two people were injured and one was hospitalized after a DUI related head-on collision on Hilltop Dr. Redding
During their subsequent investigation, officers learned the driver of the truck who later fled the scene was traveling south on Hilltop Dr. when he made a left turn directly into the oncoming van, which had been traveling north when the accident occurred.
The truck then crashed into a tree, at which time the driver fled the scene on foot.
Both occupants from the van sustained lacerations and other injuries and the driver was transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital for further treatment.
Officers began searching for the driver and with help from California Highway Patrol’s Northern Division Air Operations, officials spotted a man several blocks away who matched the description provided by witnesses.
Officers contacted the man, later identified as Hal Kimberly Sutherland, 33, of Redding.
Although Sutherland had changed his clothes in an attempt to disguise his appearance, he later admitted to officers that he was driving the Ford at the time of the collision.
While interviewing and evaluating Sutherland, officers determined he was under the influence of a combination of illegal drugs, according to Sheldon.
Based on their investigation officers arrested Sutherland and he was later booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of driving under the influence causing injury, fleeing the scene of a collision and violating the terms of his Post Release Community Supervision.
Anyone with further information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 20R036074 and can remain anonymous.
