VENTURA : One Injured in Crash of Stolen Truck
A Ventura man suspected of drunken driving crashed a stolen pickup truck at a Ventura Freeway interchange Thursday, critically injuring his passenger.
Several objects--including a sawed-off shotgun and silverware--were strewn near the crumpled Toyota truck at the junction of the Ojai Freeway. California Highway Patrol Officer Staci Morse said some of the objects were apparently stolen.
The wrecked truck also was recently stolen in Tennessee, the home state of the injured passenger, she said.
Carlos Lopez, 25, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and was being held in Ventura County Jail. An alcohol blood level was not available late Thursday, Morse said.
The passenger, Anthony Lee Collins, was in intensive care at Ventura County Medical Center, a spokeswoman said. He had severe head and spinal injuries, internal bleeding and fractured legs.
Lopez attempted to run away from the 7:10 a.m. accident, but a truck driver who saw the rollover “grabbed him and walked him back,” Morse said.
Morse said Collins will be arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle if he recovers.
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