Santa Cruz Police Hunt Hit-and-Run Driver

Santa Cruz police are looking for a driver and truck involved in a suspected car chase and hit-and-run crash that left one person with a fractured leg on Sunday afternoon.

Officers responded to reports of a vehicle chase and an injury hit-and-run collision in the 400 block of Palm Street around 2:10 p.m. Sunday, police said.

Witnesses said they saw a gray truck chasing an older black Mercedes in the area of Bay and California streets, according to police. The Mercedes was traveling at high speeds then crashed into a curb on Palm Street, where it was rear-ended by the truck, police said. The truck driver backed up the car and based on witness reports appeared to drive into the Mercedes again on purpose, police said.

Witnesses also reported hearing both drivers yelling at each other, according to police. The truck driver then left the scene heading west on Palm Street, police said.

The vehicle is described as light gray, full-size truck with front-end damage driven by a white man in his late 40s, according to police.

Police have released photos of the truck leaving the crash scene.

The Mercedes driver suffered a compound fracture to his leg and was transported to Dominican Hospital, police said.

Witnesses or anyone with information on the crash is asked to call Santa Cruz police at (831) 420-5820. Anonymous tips can be left at (831) 420-5995 or online at http://www.santacruzpolice.com.

--Bay City News; Images via Santa Cruz Police

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