The California Highway Patrol arrested three people on suspicion of drunk driving after a traffic stop in Keyes proved to be a catalyst for a collision and a near miss.
The incident began around 2 a.m. Sunday when CHP officers pulled over a Pontiac Grand Am that was swerving in and out of the lanes on southbound Highway 99, north of Keyes Road.
One officer had the driver, Giovanni Perez, 41, of Delhi performing a field sobriety test, when the second officer saw an Acura barreling towards them, the CHP reported.
The officers were able to evade the Acura, but Perez fell and ended up in its path.
The Acura hit the back of the CHP patrol car and pushed it into the Pontiac. Perez fell between the Pontiac and the patrol car and had his ankle pinned underneath, according to the CHP.
The Acura spun and came to a rest in the middle lane of the freeway. The CHP arrested Macy Falke, 23, of Turlock on a felony charge of driving under the influence.
As emergency personnel worked to free Perez, a third vehicle, driven by Anabertha Diego, 26, of Modesto almost hit one of the officers directing traffic. She was stopped and arrested for driving under the influence.
Perez was extricated and taken to a nearby hospital with major injuries, the CHP reported. He was cited for driving under the influence.