Fullerton Police investigate an early-morning accident that injured several pedestrians, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Fullerton, Calif. Authorities say a suspected drunken driver was arrested after his pickup truck plowed into a crowd on a sidewalk, injuring multiple people, including some victims who were trapped under the vehicle. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)
The Associated Press
FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) - Witnesses and emergency responders lifted a pickup truck off people trapped when a driver plowed into a crowd on a sidewalk in Southern California early Sunday, injuring at least nine, authorities said.
Police arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs after the truck crashed into a popular area of Fullerton filled with people leaving bars and restaurants shortly before closing time.
"It was a very chaotic scene," police Lt. Jon Radus said.
The Toyota Tacoma jumped the curb, struck people and then crashed into a tree, Radus said. Some of the victims were trapped under the truck.
"One of the girls was screaming, 'Help, help!'" bystander Sohrab Gill said. "I saw some blood coming out of her nose."
Injuries ranged from moderate to critical and the victims are between 18 and 49 years old, the Orange County Register reported.
Christopher Solis of Anaheim was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI causing great bodily injury. It wasn't known if he has an attorney.
___
This story has been clarified to show police believe the suspect was under the influence of drugs, not alcohol.
___
Information from: The Orange County Register, http://www.ocregister.com
Heather Barclay, bottom left, an accident investigator with the Fullerton Police Department, gathers evidence from an early-morning accident involving a suspected DUI driver on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Fullerton, Calif. Authorities say a suspected drunken driver was arrested after his pickup truck plowed into a crowd on a sidewalk, injuring multiple people, including some victims who were trapped under the vehicle. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)
The Associated Press
Heather Barclay, an accident investigator with the Fullerton Police Department, recovers a purse that was lodged underneath a pickup truck in the aftermath of a car accident, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Fullerton, Calif. Authorities say a suspected drunken driver was arrested after his pickup truck plowed into a crowd on a sidewalk, injuring multiple people, including some victims who were trapped under the vehicle. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)
The Associated Press