On Tuesday, 60-year-old Paul Stemper of Paso Robles sustained moderate injuries in a hit-and-run crash on US 101 involving a 35-year-old suspect, Concepcion Garcia Oropeza of Atascadero.
The incident happened at around 3:35 p.m. on the northbound lanes of the freeway, north of Del Rio Road. A green, 1998 Honda Civic, steered by Oropeza was seen driving recklessly. He was speeding northbound and changing lanes safely. He was in the lefthand lane and tried to change into the right lane when Oropeza lost control of his vehicle and drove onto the east asphalt shoulder.
Following which, he drifted back to the left towards the traffic lanes and traveled out of control in a westerly direction where his vehicle hit the rear of a white GMC Sierra steered by Stemper. Stemper traveled out of control in an easterly direction and travelled across all traffic lanes after which his vehicle went down an embankment and flipped over through a chain-link fence, where it finally came to a stop on its wheels. Oropeza immediately escaped from the crash scene and headed northbound on US 101.
Stemper received moderate injuries due to the crash. Oropeza’s location is currently unknown, and the authorities are still looking for him.
An investigation is ongoing at this time.
May 6, 2021
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