Driver Arrested in Multiple Crashes

A 24-year-old Simi Valley man, who police say caused a four-car chain-reaction crash and hit another vehicle while attempting to leave the scene, was arrested Sunday after being apprehended by some teenagers.

Miguel Solis was driving east on Cochran Street in Simi Valley about 1:45 p.m. when his pickup truck rear-ended a Honda near Sycamore Drive, authorities said.

The impact sent the Honda into the rear of an Audi, which rear-ended a Nissan driven by Laura Villasenor, 23. She was treated at the scene for neck and back pain, police said.

Authorities said Solis continued east and intentionally rammed his truck into a pickup driven by Dayton Rinard.

Rinard began following Solis and tried to move his truck in front of Solis’ vehicle, according to police. Solis allegedly rammed Rinard’s truck a second time, and Rinard drove to police headquarters.

The teenagers who had witnessed the initial crash followed Solis through midtown residential areas.

His car crashed at the east end of Barnes Street, and he and his passenger fled on foot.

The youths caught the two men near Sequoia Avenue and held them until police arrived.

Solis was being booked into Ventura County Jail on Sunday night on felony violations of hit and run and driving under the influence with injuries, and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, police said.