According to CHP spokesperson Matt Harvey, a series of accidents spanning “several miles of freeway” were the result of drunk driving. Harvey explained that Allan Lemi (age 30) of Eureka was driving a 1986 orange Nissan pickup southbound on Hwy 101 about 9:20 p.m. As he was approaching the Sunset off-ramp in Arcata, he made an unsafe lane change and sideswiped another vehicle, a 2007 Hyundai Excel.

Harvey said that Lemi continued southbound fleeing the scene of the accident. Just south of the Bracut Industrial Park, Lemi allowed his vehicle to exit the west roadway edge and hit a power pole. At this point, he abandoned his vehicle and fled.

Wires from the damaged pole came down and a third vehicle, a 2001 1500 Chevy pickup hit the lines and sustained minor damage to the front-end. (More on these two incidents can be found here in the CHP dispatch log here.)

A short time later, Lemi was discovered hiding in the bushes. He was arrested at 10:10 p.m. for Driving Under the Influence, Exceeding Maximum Blood Alcohol Limit, and misdemeanor hit and run.