On Monday, May 29th, 2023, at 12:41 pm, the Turlock Police Department was dispatched to a reported hit and run that had just occurred at David’z Tacos, 1030 East Ave, Turlock, with a witness on a bicycle following the suspect who had hit the taco trailer.
While officers were responding, they were informed by the witness that the suspect in a white 2012 Ford F-350 had noticed him and threatened to run him over.
When officers arrived in the area, they located the suspect in the driveway of a residence in the 100 block of W F St where he had collided with a 2001 Ford Expedition.
Officers contacted the suspect and identified him as Darrel Canada, 44, of Hilmar. When they had their dispatcher run him, they discovered that he had a suspended driver’s license due to prior DUI convictions.
Canada displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence, however, refused to participate in standardized field sobriety tests or blow into a preliminary alcohol screening device.
Officers then spoke with the witness, who stated that after Canada had threatened to run him over, he attempted to do so but failed which is how the second collision with the Expedition had occurred.
Based on the totality of the circumstances, officers determined that Canada was under the influence of alcohol and arrested him.
Canada refused to provide a chemical sample as required by California’s implied consent law, so he was transported to a local hospital for a forceful blood draw after a search warrant was obtained.
Afterward, he was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, and fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in property damage. He was also issued an administrative driver’s license suspension order by the California Department of Motor Vehicles and his vehicle was impounded.
No one suffered any injuries as a result of either of the two collisions and all three vehicles only sustained minor damage.
It’s currently unknown how the first collision with the taco trailer occurred.
