(Click photos to enlarge.)

UPDATE, 11/8: Eureka Police Department press release:

On 11/7/13 at approximately 4:46 p.m. Eureka Police Officers were dispatched to 5^th Street and E Street to the report of an injury traffic collision between a truck and a pedestrian.

Upon arrival officers found a white 2006 Ford F350 that was blocking the far right lane of 5^th Street. Officers located a pedestrian lying in the far right lane of 5^th Street in front of the Ford. The driver of the Ford was identified as forty-one year old Bryan Sanderson of McKinleyville. The pedestrian was identified as twenty-eight year old Terry Houser of Eureka.

Based on the driver’s and witnesses’ statements, Houser fled on foot southbound onto 5^th Street, outside the crosswalk, in front of eastbound vehicle traffic, after stealing a radio controlled helicopter from RC Hobby Tech, located at 411 5^th Street. Sanderson drove the Ford eastbound in the far right lane of 5^th Street through the intersection of E Street on a green traffic control signal, when Houser ran in a southwest direction into the far right lane of 5^th Street in front of the Ford. Sanderson was unable to stop the Ford before striking Houser.

Houser was transported to Saint Joseph Hospital by ambulance where he was determined to be in stable condition with multiple abrasions, broken teeth, and a broken right femur. Houser is on felony probation for grand theft and vandalism. Houser was recently released from the Humboldt County Correctional Facility after a felony theft related conviction. A warrant declaration will be submitted to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office due to Houser committing a theft from RC Hobby Tech.

Alcohol or drugs did not appear to be a factor in the collision.  The investigation into this collision is still ongoing.

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Original post: An unlucky shoplifter was struck by a pickup truck while attempting to flee in Eureka today. According to witnesses your Lost Coast Outpost spoke with at the scene, the unidentified man entered the RC Hobby Tech hobby store, grabbed a model helicopter and ran out the door with it. As he hurried across Fifth Street with bystanders who’d been in the store in pursuit, he was struck by a white Ford F-2350 pickup truck in the far right lane. Those who saw the impact said the man was briefly knocked unconscious and suspected his leg had been severely injured.

Emergency personnel responded, loaded the man onto a stretcher while Eureka Police officers questioned him as to whether or not the helicopter was his. He was soon whisked away by ambulance.

LoCO spoke with RC Hobby Tech owner James Campbell who said the nearly stolen item was a clone of a Align T-Rex 500 model helicopter that he’d hoped to sell for about $200. 

The coveted item.

EPD document the scene.

RC Hobby Tech owner James Campbell gives his account of the event to EPD’s Tim Jones.