Passenger thrown from car after two collisions in Apple Valley, driver arrested for drunk driving – VVNG.com

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) – A driver was arrested for drunk driving after causing two crashes in Apple Valley that ejected his passenger from the car and seriously injured.

On Thursday, July 25, 2024, at approximately 7:30 p.m., a traffic accident was reported near State Route 18, near Horseman’s Center Park in San Bernardino County.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers and emergency responders arrived at the scene and identified a 22-year-old Barstow man named Caleb Elijah Hodgeand a 20-year-old woman from Apple Valley as persons involved.

Initial investigation revealed that Hodge was driving a 2007 Cadillac DTS with the woman as a passenger. They were traveling on Bear Valley Road, approaching SR-18, when Hodge turned right onto SR-18 and immediately drove onto the right dirt shoulder.

He then made an illegal U-turn, resulting in a collision with a 2016 Kia Optima driven by a 26-year-old Lucerne Valley man. The left front of the Cadillac struck the right rear of the Kia.

After the collision, Hodge fled the scene and headed west on SR-18. Shortly thereafter, at about 7:35 p.m., he was involved in a second accident. While driving on the dirt shoulder near the Horseman’s Center, he lost control of the vehicle, which then overturned.

In this accident, the passenger was thrown from the vehicle, seriously injured, and taken by helicopter to Loma Linda Medical Center. Hodge remained in the vehicle and was able to free herself before emergency personnel arrived.

CHP officers suspected alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash. Hodge was arrested and transported to a local hospital before being booked into the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto.

Hodge is charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Bodily Injury (VC23153(A)) and Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol with a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .08 or More Causing Bodily Injury (VC23153(B)). His bail is set at $250,000 and his arraignment is scheduled for July 29, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. in a Victorville courtroom.

The CHP Victorville office is conducting the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the office at 760-241-1186.

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