70 year old John Carroll, of Spring, is tended to by emergency personnel after his car was struck by another vehicle causing his to roll.
Driver Strikes Vehicle Causing a Rollover, Flees Scene, Gets Caught, LIVINGSTON, April 12, 2014 - At approximately 3:40 pm on April 12, 2014, John Carroll, 70, of Spring was north-bound on US-59 just south of Livingston. Carroll suddenly lost control of his vehicle and left the pavement to the right causing his vehicle to roll. His black 1998 Toyota Avalon came to rest upright in the grass. Carroll had been struck by another vehicle. The other vehicle, a black 1997 Jeep Cherokee was occupied by a Hispanic male. The driver opted to flee the scene and turned his Jeep facing south on the shoulder of the north-bound lanes, then proceeded to a nearby crossover where he crossed to the south-bound side of 59 and fled the scene. The collision caused his front bumper to fall off (with the License plate still attached). Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with Officer Brandon Brewer with Livingston Police Department. Carroll was treated at the scene then transported to Livingston Memorial Hospital by Ambulance with undisclosed injuries. Officer Brewer recovered the front bumper from the vehicle that had fled. Deputy Rey Davalos with the Polk County Sheriff's Office was in the area and, based on the license plate information, was able to ascertain the address of the driver of the Black Jeep Cherokee. Davalos found him near his house walking down the road. The suspect is identified as Gerardo Oropeza, 44, of Goodrich. Oropeza allegedly admitted to the crime. Davalos located the Jeep with the missing bumper in Oropeza's driveway. Gerardo Oropeza has been arrested and charged with: No driver's license, failure to maintain a single lane, no insurance, and already had a warrant out for his arrest for no insurance, and will probably be charged with fleeing the scene of an accident. John Carroll's vehicle was recovered by Ken's Towing and will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston.
Gerardo Macias Oropeza, 44, of Goodrich, allegedly struck John Carroll's vehicle causing it to roll and then fled the scene.
John Carroll was transported to Livingston Memorial Hospital.
Officer Brandon Brewer with Livingston Police Department, recovered the bumper and license plate from the suspect vehicle.
Carroll's vehicle was recovered by Ken's Towing.
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