Santa Barbara County – Those who fail to take the privilege of driving a motor vehicle in the State of California responsibly can find themselves at the wrong end of a criminal prosecution, and we know where such courtroom experiences find ultimate resolution: with incarceration, probation, parole, and lifelong felony records.
Such severe penalties may well be in the future of 21-year old Tarcelia Perez, who was driving through the streets of Santa Maria on Saturday, May 23rd, when she was observed by witnesses as she drove through an intersection red light and crashed her 2002 Toyota Corolla into a 2003 Honda Odyssey van. The driver of the van, a 28-year old woman, was later found to be seriously injured – enough to be transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Immediately following the accident, according to Santa Maria Police Department spokesman Sgt. Mark Norling, Perez drove away from the scene as “a witness followed the Corolla” and observed Perez slam into another vehicle on Santa Maria’s Main Street. It was at this time that Santa Maria Police Department Patrol units were on the scene, quickly giving pursuit to Perez as she sped off once again.
A vehicle chase ensued, during which marked patrol units attempted to bring Perez’s vehicle to a halt over a distance of approximately four miles. Perez was ultimately forced to stop by the extensive damage to her vehicle, whereupon she was taken into custody, and determined to have been driving under the influence and without a valid operator’s license.
She was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where she was booked for felony DUI, felony hit and run, evading a peace officer, and driving with a suspended license.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail booking
