Anaheim Police employee critically injured while performing traffic control; DUI suspect in crash arrested

An Anaheim Police Department employee was critically injured when her vehicle was struck by a driver suspected of driving under the influence of drugs Saturday afternoon, March 9, authorities said. The suspect earlier Saturday was involved in an unrelated incident in which his vehicle struck another vehicle and he fled the scene, police said.

The employee, a Traffic Control Assistant, was in a stopped, marked vehicle performing traffic control duties on La Palma Avenue across the street from Servite High School when she was hit from behind by a pickup truck, Sgt. Daron Wyatt said.

The forced of the crash caused the employee to be ejected from her vehicle. Co-workers and paramedics performed medical aid before she was taken to a local trauma center in critical condition, Wyatt said.

The marked vehicle was blocking traffic in the westbound right lane of La Palma Avenue when the Toyota Tundra rear ended the vehicle, Wyatt said.

The driver of the truck, 34-year-old Jose Alfredo Alcantar Garcia of Placentia was arrested and booked at the Anaheim Detention Facility on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs causing great bodily injury, possession of methamphetamine for sale, transportation of methamphetamine and driving on a suspended license, Wyatt said.

Investigators believe he was driving under the influence of methamphetamine and marijuana when the crash occurred, the police department said in a statement. His bail was statutorily set at $100,000.

Anaheim police said Garcia was also booked on suspicion of hit-and-run after investigators determined that about an hour prior to the crash involving the traffic control assistant, Garcia was involved in a crash on eastbound La Palma and fled the scene. There were no injuries in that crash.