Early Thanksgiving morning at 1:30AM, Atwater Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Winton Way and Drakeley Ave on a report of a hit and run accident. Officers found that a late 80’s model Honda had struck a parked vehicle, a sign and ultimately a tree before coming to rest. The vehicle had also complete severed a PG&E Gas Meter cause a gas leak. The driver had fled the scene prior to our arrival. 8 residences, including the Riggs Ambulance Substation, had to be evacuated. Approximately 40 minutes later PG&E responded and repaired the leak allowing residents to return home.
Photo Courtesy- APD
The vehicle’s registration was expired since 2015 and had a dated release of liability to an address in Sonora. One witness stated the driver, which was described as a heavy set Hispanic male adult wearing a black sweatshirt fled the scene running southbound on Winton Way.