Stolen vehicle crashes, driver injured

VISALIA -- The driver of a car determined to be stolen crashed the vehicle after ignoring a traffic stop as part of a DUI Saturation Detail in Visalia early Sunday morning, sustaining undetermined injuries.

Visalia police said at approximately 1:15 a.m., an officer working the DUI detail attempted to stop a gold 1988 Honda Accord traveling south on Akers, south of Walnut. The driver, an unidentified Hispanic male, refused to stop and continued southbound on Akers, police said, and veered off the right shoulder of the road. The driver overcorrected and skidded across the left side of the road before crashing into a power pole. The vehicle rolled two or three times and the driver was ejected.

The Honda was reported stolen out of Tulare, and the driver didn't appear to be wearing a seat belt. He was transported to Kaweah Delta District Hospital and transferred to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for undetermined injuries.

The driver was arrested for the stolen vehicle as well as felony evading. His condition was unknown as of this morning.

(Dec. 31, 2007)