Security-camera footage from the Taco Bell parking lot on East Washington Street in Petaluma shows a white Infiniti slamming into two parked cars early Thursday, then backing up and tearing out of the lot, according to Petaluma police. The late-night smashup left a fire hydrant damaged and two vehicles badly mangled. Officers say the Infiniti was occupied by two males, and no arrests have been made as the investigation continues.
What the video shows
Surveillance footage posted by the Petaluma Police Department captures the white Infiniti ramming into two parked cars in the Taco Bell lot at about 12:59 AM on July 16, then reversing and fleeing the scene. Moments later, the same car appears to strike a fire hydrant near Edith Street and East Washington Street before vanishing from view. Officers carried out an extensive search but were not able to find the vehicle. The Infiniti contained two males, according to Patch.
Police response and possible causes
Investigators say impairment is one possible factor under review as they work to figure out what triggered the reckless driving caught on camera. A neighbor who heard about the crash told ABC7 Bay Area, "I hope they find the person who did this, because that's just crazy."
How to help
Petaluma police are asking anyone with dashcam or surveillance footage, or anyone who knows of a white Infiniti with fresh front-end damage, to contact investigators. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the department's Nixle tip page, by calling the non-emergency line at (707) 778-4372, or by emailing Officer Schott at [email protected], per Patch.
Context: a string of local crashes
The hit-and-run comes during a run of serious traffic incidents in Petaluma this year, including a suspected DUI collision on Highway 101 in June that left three people severely injured, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Hoodline has also covered recent hit-and-run and DUI cases around town, a pattern that has kept local safety officials and residents on edge.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and are again urging anyone with information to speak up. Investigators plan to review any additional video that might help identify the Infiniti or the people inside it. For now, the crumpled cars and busted hydrant at the Taco Bell lot serve as a stark reminder of how quickly late-night recklessness can turn a drive-through run into a small disaster scene.
