Police: Off-duty Hollister officer stops reckless driver

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION) Hollister police said one of their officers stopped a reckless driver who reached speeds of nearly 100 mph while off-duty.

On Thursday at around 6:10 p.m., the officer was driving home after his shift in his personal vehicle north on San Felipe Road. He got to a point where two lanes merge to one and noticed a black Chevy Camaro in his rearview mirror that appeared to be speeding.

The officer said the Camaro was driving at about 100 mph as it approached and did not appear to be slowing down or braking. He pulled to the right and almost off the shoulder in an attempt to avoid a crash, and the officer said the driver of the Camaro veered to the left and over the double yellow line.

When the Camaro veered to the left, the officer said the driver temporarily lost control and the car fishtailed. Once the driver got control, the officer said he accelerated northbound.

The officer said he followed the car and got ready to call 911 to report it, but noticed that traffic was stopped and the Camaro nearly rear-ended another vehicle stopped at the red light.

While the Camaro was stopped, the officer said he pulled up next to it, opened his window and showed the driver his badge while motioning to the driver to pull over.

Instead of pulling over, the officer said the driver of the Camaro continued for another mile before pulling over.

The officer said the driver, 21-year-old Luis Gallegos-Valdez, and his passenger defied him and had to be told to stay in the car several times.

When other officers got to the scene, the driver and passenger were detained. Gallegos-Valdez was arrested for reckless driving, but was released at the scene with a notice to appear in court. The Camaro was impounded.

Police are looking for the driver of another vehicle the Camaro passed before the incident. They are asking that person to come forward as a witness.