Crime & Safety
Santa Cruz Man Busted for Suspected DUI After Colliding with Hydrant, Pole, Stop Sign
The accident occurred late Monday just off Highway 1 in Aptos. The driver and passenger were not injured.
By Bay City News Service
A Santa Cruz man was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving Monday night after colliding with a fire hydrant, light pole and stop sign in Aptos, according to the California Highway Patrol.
At about 11:30 p.m. Monday, Taylor Wilcox, 21, was driving south on McGregor Drive just off of state Highway 1 when he lost control of his car while turning right onto Mar Vista Drive, the CHP said.
Wilcox's 2011 Mazda collided with the hydrant, light pole and stop sign, but he and his 17-year-old male passenger were wearing seat belts and were not injured, according to officers.
The force of the crash knocked the hydrant off of its base and water began to flow onto the roadway and over a live electrical wire that had fallen from the light pole, the CHP said.
The water continued to flow from the breached hydrant for an hour and 20 minutes before it could be shut off, the CHP said.
Wilcox pushed his car out of the roadway and briefly fled the scene but he was later located a short distance away on Mar Vista, according to officers.
CHP officers arrived and arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, the CHP said.
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