Menifee man faces DUI, other charges after crash on Ethanac

A Menifee man was arrested on suspicion of DUI, hit and run injury and other charges after a four-vehicle collision on Ethanac Road near Murrieta Road Saturday night, police said.

Sheriff's deputies responded at 8:45 p.m. to the scene, located on Ethanac between Murrieta Road and Hull Street in Perris, just north of the Menifee border. According to a news release, 20-year-old Dominick Olivas of Menifee was driving a silver Mercedes Benz westbound on Ethanac Road, attempted to pass a vehicle in a no-passing zone, and lost control of his vehicle.

Olivas' vehicle was broadsided by a white Toyota Tacoma traveling eastbound on Ethanac Road. That collision caused Olivas' vehicle to collide with a silver Toyota Tacoma, which rolled over. A fourth vehicle traveling eastbound on Ethanac Road was unable to avoid the vehicles blocking the road and collided with Olivas' vehicle.

The initial collision caused Olivas' vehicle to be torn in half. He and his juvenile passenger sustained minor injuries. After the collision, they fled the scene and were located by officers a short time later near McLaughlin Road and Hull Street with the assistance of witnesses.

Alchohol is suspected to be a factor in the collision, according to the news release. Olivas is facing charges including DUI causing injury, hit and run with injury and child endangerment. After being medically cleared, he was booked at Cois Byrd Detention Center.

The driver and passenger of the first Toyota suffered moderate and non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the second Toyota sustained moderate non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the fourth vehicle was not injured.