Arcata Police Department press release: 

On Monday June 8th 2015, at approximately 7:45 pm, the Arcata Police Department responded to the 900 block of Samoa Boulevard on the report of a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision with major injuries.

Several witnesses reported the driver of a black and silver 1990’s model Toyota pickup struck a pedestrian and fled westbound on Highway 255 toward Manila. Officers located an unresponsive male in the roadway with major injuries.

A short time later an Officer of the California Highway Patrol stopped the suspect vehicle as it traveled eastbound on the Samoa Bridge from Highway 255 toward Eureka. APD responded to the scene of the traffic stop to investigate and identified the driver as 55 year old Eureka resident Donald David Watts. 

Watts was placed under arrest by APD at the scene and was booked at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following felony charges:

• California Vehicle Code Section 23153(a)-Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Causing Injury.
• California Vehicle Code Section 20001(a)-Duty to Stop at the Scene of a Traffic Collision.

The pedestrian, a 23 year old Arcata resident, was flown out of county for medical treatment in critical condition.

The Arcata Police Department is requesting anyone who witnessed the collision to contact the APD Detective Unit.

PREVIOUSLY: Serious Vehicle vs. Pedestrian Hit-and-Run on Samoa Boulevard; Law Enforcement Searching For Driver