Sonora, CA…On Friday, 8/7/15, about 10:15 P.M. Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to the 21000 block of Crestview Drive on a request for assistance by CHP who were on scene of a traffic collision. Responding Deputies met with the California Highway Patrol Officers on scene. It was determined the traffic collision may be an intentional act, so the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office assumed the investigation.

Deputies spoke with witnesses at the scene who related the following;

Numerous people were leaving a family gathering at a residence on Crestview Drive. A vehicle, described as a Mitsubishi Eclipse, drove past several pedestrians, at a high rate of speed. A pedestrian walking with his family and carrying his two year old son yelled, “slow down” to the driver of the vehicle. The suspect vehicle stopped and the driver put the vehicle in reverse and accelerated at a high rate of speed in the direction of the pedestrians. The rear of the suspect’s vehicle struck the front of a legally parked vehicle. The impact of the collision caused the parked vehicle to strike a 30 year old female, who is approx. nine months pregnant and her ten year old daughter. The suspect then fled the area in the suspect vehicle.

The pregnant female, and daughter were transported to Sonora Regional Hospital by Ambulance. The juvenile victim suffered abrasions and was treated and released from the hospital. The adult female was transferred to an out of county trauma center for treatment of her serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Deputies were able to find multiple items of evidence at the scene, but were unable to locate the suspect or vehicle. On 8/8/15 a citizen tip led Deputies to a residence in the 21000 block of American River Drive where the suspect vehicle was discovered covered by a tarp. Deputies were able to obtain a search warrant for the vehicle and the vehicle was impounded for additional investigation.

On 8/9/15 the registered owner of the suspect vehicle, forty year old David Serpa Jr, arrived at the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office. After speaking with Deputies, Serpa was taken into custody on the above listed charges. Serpa’s bail was set at 40,000 (forty thousand) dollars. Serpa was able to provide the bail and was released from custody pending his arraignment in court to answer the charges.

Although a suspect was arrested regarding this incident, the investigation is on going and no other information will be released at this time.

Incident: Assault with a Deadly Weapon (vehicle)

Suspect:

Serpa Jr., David, Joseph
40 years of age
Resident of Sonora, CA

Charges:
245(A)(1) P.C. Assault with a Deadly Weapon (vehicle) Felony
20001(B)(1) CVC Hit and Run Felony