Drunk driver arrested after injuring child and fleeing scene, striking second vehicle while doing so Monday evening

On Monday, October 10th, 2022, at 7:55 pm, the Turlock Police Department, Turlock Fire Department, and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported hit and run with injuries at the intersection of Lander Ave and E Linwood Ave, Turlock.

When crews arrived on scene, they found a single vehicle left at the scene, a white Chevrolet pickup truck. The other involved vehicle was a white Acura sedan that had been last seen heading eastbound on E Linwood Ave.

The white Chevrolet pickup truck had two occupants, an adult driver and a child passenger. The child passenger suffered minor injuries and was ground transported by American Medical Response to a local hospital.

The white Chevrolet pickup truck sustained moderate damage and was deemed inoperable as a result of the collision, requiring it to be towed away.

It’s currently unknown how the collision occurred.

While crews were still handling the first collision, at about 8:02 pm, the Turlock Police Department was dispatched to another reported vehicle collision, this one in front of a residence in the 1500 block of E Linwood Ave.

When officers arrived on scene, they found two vehicles involved. The first one was a white Acura sedan and the second one was a blue Chevrolet pickup truck. A mailbox, sign, and wheelbarrow were also involved. The white Acura sedan was determined to be the same one that had fled from the first collision.

The white Acura sedan had a single occupant, its driver, James Hilton, 26, of Turlock. He suffered moderate injuries and was ground transported by American Medical Response to a local hospital. The blue Chevrolet pickup truck was parked and unoccupied.

The white Acura sedan had sustained major damage, while the blue Chevrolet pickup truck had sustained moderate damage. Both vehicles were deemed inoperable as a result of the collision, requiring them to be towed away.

Prior to Hilton being transported to the hospital, while officers were speaking with him, they noticed that he was exhibiting objective symptoms of being under the influence. Officers did not ask him to participate in standardized field sobriety tests due to his injuries, however, they learned that he had a suspended driver’s license due to DUI and also had a warrant for DUI.

Based on the totality of the circumstances, officers determined that Hilton was under the influence of alcohol.

Hilton was arrested but then released to be transported to the hospital.

It’s currently also unknown how the second collision occurred.