Hit and Run Leads to Chase through North San Rafael

After a hit and run on Highway 101, a Petaluma man pursued the driver who hit him through North San Rafael until police arrested the suspect, according to California Highway Patrol spokeperson Eric Hohmeister.

Novato resident Carlos Rocael Calderon-Lopez was booked in on misdemeanor charges of a hit and run, driving without a license and giving false information to a police officer.

At approximately 9:25 a.m. on Tuesday, 25-year-old Logan Walker was driving a Toyota southbound on Highway 101 near the North San Pedro exit when  22-year-old Calderon-Lopez rear ended him. The drivers were traveling at around 60 mph, but no one was injured in the collision and the damage was minor, Hohmeister said.

After the impact, Calderon-Lopez exited the freeway on North San Pedro Road in his Geo Prism. Walker called the police and followed Calderon-Lopez from Merrydale Road back on to North San Pedro Road to Los Ranchitos Road and then back on the freeway after passing the .

“As Calderon-Lopez re-entered US-101 northbound, he realized that Walker was still directly behind him and he exited the freeway at Smith Ranch Road and came to a stop in the Smith Ranch Park and Ride,” Hohmeister said.

When an officer arrived, Calderon-Lopez attempted to explain that his 23-year-old passenger, William Sandolbal of Novato, was the driver.

“However, [Calderon-Lopez] was identified as the driver at the time of the collision by Walker, Walker’s three passengers, and also Sandolbal,” Hohmeister said.

Caldron-Lopez, who had a prior conviction for driving without a license, was arrested and his bail is $1,274.00.