Sunday, May 27, 2012

CA: Pruis suspects sought

OFF THE WIRE
http://southsanfrancisco.patch.com/articles/suspects-sought-in-alleged-biker-attack-on-prius-driver-262369bc
Suspects Sought in Alleged Biker Attack on Prius Driver

Two suspects wearing full-face helmets during the alleged assault and have not been identified, authorities say.
May 23, 2012

The California Highway Patrol is trying to identify at least two motorcyclists that assaulted a driver who was trying to film them on U.S. Highway 101 near Belmont on Sunday.
The two suspects were wearing full-face helmets during the alleged assault and have not been identified, CHP Officer Art Montiel said.
The attack happened minutes after the driver of a Toyota Prius -- a 19-year-old San Jose man -- allegedly used his cellphone to videotape a group of as many as 20 motorcyclists as he was driving alongside them on northbound Highway 101 near Ralston Avenue, according to the CHP.
Some members of the group were believed to be members of the Hells Angels gang, Montiel said.
The traffic in front of the Prius suddenly slowed and the driver swerved to the left, colliding with one of the motorcyclists in the left-hand lane.
The car then struck the center divider and bounced back, hitting another motorcycle before coming to a stop in the roadway's third lane, Montiel said.
Two motorcyclists traveling near the back of the pack lost control in an attempt to avoid the crash.
One motorcyclist, 43-year-old Michael Manner of San Bruno, suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung in the collision and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, according to the CHP.
The driver of the Prius, who was cited at the scene for distracted driving, suffered minor injuries in the assault, Montiel said.
Two other motorcyclists were taken to a hospital with minor injuries, and a third suffered a broken leg.
Redwood City police and CHP officers who responded to the scene did not witness the crash or the assault, both of which remain under investigation, Montiel said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the CHP at (650) 369-6261