Petaluma driver arrested in hit-and-run crash that injured cyclist

One day after a cyclist was side-swiped by a hit-and-run motorist, Petaluma police arrested the suspected driver.|
JULIE JOHNSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A 34-year-old Petaluma driver suspected of side-swiping a cyclist and fleeing the scene was arrested Saturday on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing injury, police said.

The cyclist was struck after 8 p.m. Friday on westbound Caulfield Lane just west of South McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma police officials said. The 68-year-old man, who wasn’t identified, was thrown nearly 40 feet, suffering cuts on his legs, arms and face, according to police.

Witnesses said the driver, later identified as Kelman Garcia de Leon, fled in a silver sports car, Sgt. Aaron Garihan said. The cyclist was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

On Saturday, a tipster alerted police to a vehicle matching the description near the 1600-block of San Marino Drive in Petaluma. Officers found Garcia de Leon “inspecting damage to the vehicle,” police said in a statement.

Garcia de Leon “denied any involvement in the hit and run collision but further investigation uncovered an involved party who identified (Garcia de Leon) as the driver,” according to police.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.
Send a letter to the editor