Fortuna Police Dept Press Release:

On October 10, 2012 at about 11:30 pm, Fortuna Police received an emergency call reporting that a green colored SUV was traveling on Redwood Way at speeds in excess of 70 mph. Officers were in the area of the violation within a minute but were initially unable to locate the SUV.

Minute’s later dispatch was notified that the vehicle was now travelling on Maxwell Street in an erratic manner. As a sergeant turned onto Barry Avenue from Redwood Way, the SUV proceeded through the intersection at a high rate of speed, bypassing the stop sign and nearly colliding with the driver’s side of the patrol unit. As the SUV proceeded on Redwood Way, it was immediately located by an officer who initiated a traffic stop. As the officer initiated his overhead emergency lights the vehicle made a sharp turning movement into the Safeway parking lot where it subsequently collided with the Safeway building, while still traveling at a moderate rate of speed.

As the officer approached the scene of the collision, he observed the driver of the vehicle exit and run to area near the damaged front bumper and the Safeway building. The driver then positioned herself under the damaged front bumper, indicated that she had been hit by the vehicle and was not the driver.

The driver was identified as 25 year old Fortuna resident Katrina Lane, who was also found to be the registered owner of the damaged SUV. Lane was treated at Redwood Memorial Hospital for minor injuries. An adult passenger, whose name was not released, was uninjured and refused medical treatment.

Lane was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Jail on the following charges:

• CVC 23152 (a) – Driving under the influence
• CVC 12500 – Driving unlicensed
• PC 1203.2 – Violation of probation