A Morgan Hill resident led police on a short chase northbound on
U.S. 101 Friday afternoon after fleeing a hit-and-run injury
collision involving a Gilroy bicyclist.
A Morgan Hill resident led police on a short chase northbound on U.S. 101 Friday afternoon after fleeing a hit-and-run injury collision involving a Gilroy bicyclist.
Joel Sanchez Castaneda, 50 of Morgan Hill, was charged with felony hit and run with injury and evading a police officer after he hit a 23-year-old Gilroy bicyclist near the intersection of Eighth Street and Monterey Road then fled the scene, police said.
Gilroy police received calls of an injury accident at 4:50 p.m. Friday, according to a Gilroy Police Department press report. Police say the bicyclist had minor injuries and was treated at the scene by medical personnel, then released.
As GPD was dispatched to Eighth Street, an officer en route spotted Castaneda driving a black Chevrolet Silverado. GPD Sgt. Chad Gallacinao says police attempted to initiate a stop, but Castaneda failed to yield. Officers pursued Castaneda for several minutes until he finally pulled over near Leavesley Road, according to GPD.
Although officers noted an “odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from the person” in an initial investigation, Gallacinao says Castaneda was determined not to be under the influence.
