- John Lindblom
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State Fish and Wildlife warden suffers minor injuries in hit and run crash; second driver arrested
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – A California Department of Fish and Wildlife warden received minor injuries on Tuesday as a result of a wreck on Highway 29 that officials said was caused by a second driver crossing over to the wrong side of the road.
Fish and Wildlife Warden Doug Wilson, 29, of Clearlake suffered minor injuries in the crash, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The second driver, 40-year-old Douglas Rupert of Clearlake, fled the scene on foot and later was arrested in Hidden Valley Lake by CHP officers, the agency said.
The CHP said the crash occurred at approximately 10:10 a.m. on Highway 29 south of Spruce Grove Road just outside of Hidden Valley Lake.
CHP Officer Kevin Hildebrand, an investigator at the crash scene, said Rupert – who was in a 2008 Dodge Scion XB – was driving southbound when the crash occurred.
Wilson, in his assigned 2007 Chevrolet patrol pickup, was traveling northbound toward Rupert’s location when, for reasons still under investigation, Rupert allowed the Scion to cross into the opposing lane and into Wilson’s path of travel, the CHP said in a late Tuesday afternoon report.
The CHP said Wilson attempted to veer away from Rupert’s vehicle, but Rupert continued crossing further into Wilson’s lane, with the left front section of the Scion hitting Wilson’s pickup.
Hildebrand said the collision caused Wilson’s pickup to overturn and settle onto its hood. At the scene he indicated where the truck had rolled and come to rest in the southbound lane.
Rupert’s Scion came to a stop on its wheels in the northbound traffic lane, far south of Wilson’s pickup, the CHP said.
Rupert and his three passengers, all of Clearlake – Cozette Kate Roper, 30; Elizabeth Thorn, 18; and Donald Scott Rupert, 18 – all fled the area, running into the hills toward the east after the crash, according to the CHP.
Hidden Valley Lake Security later found two of the passengers and detained them, and the CHP received a report that a subject matching Douglas Rupert’s description was near the Hardester’s Market in Hidden Valley Lake, the CHP said.
CHP Officer Mark Crutcher and Officer Rob Hearn responded to Hardester’s, finding Rupert when they arrived. The CHP said Rupert attempted to run from Crutcher but was soon taken into custody without further incident.
Hildebrand said that Wilson “showed no obvious signs of injury” and was able to walk away from his overturned truck. Wilson did, however, have a complaint of pain and was later taken to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake to be checked out.
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