Witnesses say after running into an elderly driver in downtown Bakersfield...the man took off down the 178, where he caused another injury accident.
They had to grab the keys away from the drunk driver, until police were able to arrest him.
Witnesses on the scene say this elderly driver may have run a red light--but when witnesses say the driver of the other car got out he appeared to be drunk.
A witness, Gene Coughlin said,
"The wife was trying to get the keys out of the gentlemen's car because he was trying to drive off...he eventually drove off...and it looked to me like he had been drinking."
That man took off- down the 178 and within minutes another accident thanks to the eyewitnesses to the first accident brave citizens were able to box in the driver before he could leave again.
An eyewitness who helped stop the drunk driver, Donna Valladares said,
"I told myself...i have to stop him. so i just got in front of him and slowed down...so i watch just in case he tried to get away."
Dave Ingrum, another eye witness who helped stopped the drunk driver explained how he did it.
"so i jumped in my car and caught up to him...she stopped him but i pinned him in and took his car keys away, and pulled him out of the car."
some are calling those drivers heros.
Larry Valladares who was impressed with his sister's quick action said,
"she's the hero- she's the one who stopped him from getting away...my sisters a hero!"
Police booked the man on felony drunk driver charges. He'll spend the night in jail.
In all, two drivers were injured in the hit and run crashes and they were taken to area hospitals.
Meantime, the suspected drunk driver maintains his innocence, but witnesses and police say despite the chaos things could have been much worse.
Police are thanking an alert Bakersfield community. They were able to get this driver off the road, before things turned deadly.
