What apparently began as a hit-and-run accident in San Jose
Friday night moved south into Morgan Hill and became a road rage
incident. Both drivers were arrested after a chase on Highway 101
ended on Dunne Avenue near the Lawrence Oaks Shopping Center at
about 8:30pm. Richard Bushell, 37, of Santa Clara, was arrested on
charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon and assault and
battery causing great bodily injury. He is a parolee. Michael
Fekkes, 38, of Fremont, was arrested for driving under the
influence and hit-and-run after treatment at Saint Louise Regional
Hospital in Gilroy for injuries suffered in an altercation with
Bushell. He was treated for an eye injury and head cuts. Eastbound
Dunne Avenue was closed for more than an hour while the
investigation was under way.
What apparently began as a hit-and-run accident in San Jose Friday night moved south into Morgan Hill and became a road rage incident.
Both drivers were arrested after a chase on Highway 101 ended on Dunne Avenue near the Lawrence Oaks Shopping Center at about 8:30pm.
Richard Bushell, 37, of Santa Clara, was arrested on charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon and assault and battery causing great bodily injury. He is a parolee.
Michael Fekkes, 38, of Fremont, was arrested for driving under the influence and hit-and-run after treatment at Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy for injuries suffered in an altercation with Bushell. He was treated for an eye injury and head cuts.
Eastbound Dunne Avenue was closed for more than an hour while the investigation was under way.
Police Lt. Joe Sampson said Fekkes, in a Toyota pickup, was driving southbound on Highway 101 from the San Jose area.
“He had apparently been drinking and had struck some other vehicle in the area and kept going,” Sampson said Monday.
Later, Fekkes noticed while on 101 that his pickup was bumped by another vehicle. When it was bumped again, Sampson said, Fekkes apparently realized he was being chased and began trying to escape the other vehicle, a Ford Explorer driven by Bushell.
The chase continued south on 101, with the drivers taking several exits along the way.
Fekkes exited the highway again, this time via the Dunne Avenue interchange. He headed west on Dunne Avenue, with Bushell in pursuit, where Sampson said numerous witnesses reported seeing the Explorer ram the pickup.
As Fekkes attempted a u-turn at San Benacio, west of the shopping center, the Explorer rammed the pickup, forcing it into a curb.
According to Sampson, witnesses said Bushell jumped from the Explorer and yanked Fekkes from the pickup, punching him repeatedly in the face. When Fekkes fell to the ground, Sampson said witnesses reported Bushell then kicked him in the face and back.
When police arrived, Bushell was arrested and Fekkes was taken to the hospital.
Sampson said Bushell told officers that Fekkes’ pickup struck him at the 101/85 interchange, but would not pull over. Bushell believed Fekkes was drunk and called 911.
“When we contacted CHP, they said Bushell was told to get the license plate number but to stay away from the other driver,” said Sampson. ”He decided to follow instead. CHP officers came to Saint Louise to check on Mr. Fekkes condition and decided after treatment to transport him to County Jail as a suspect in the original hit-and-run DUI.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 202
