The Eureka Police Department will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation in July, August and September in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur. Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers and riders alike that can lead to motorcycle crashes. They will be cracking down on both those operating regular vehicles and motorcycles who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, making illegal turns, or any other dangerous violation.
Motorcycle fatalities saw a phenomenal drop of 37 percent from 2008 to 2010, but then rose 23 percent by 2012. Operations like this are aimed at curbing any more rises in motorcycle deaths and sending the numbers back downward.
In 2013 Eureka saw 23 injury motorcycle collision, 2 were DUI related. There were no fatal motorcycle collisions in Eureka in 2013.
In 2014 so far Eureka has seen 8 motorcycle collisions with 6 people being injured and 1 fatality.
California collision data reveals that primary causes of motorcycle-involved crashes include speeding, unsafe turning and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs. The Eureka Police Department is also reminding all motorists to always be alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when turning and changing lanes. Drivers should be aware that motorcycle lane splitting is not illegal if done in a safe and prudent manner. Motorcycle riders should consult the Lane Splitting General Guidelines to learn more – www.ots.ca.gov/lanesplittinggeneralguidelines.pdf.
Suspect arrested for beating
On 07/02/14 at approximately 9:21 p.m. officers were dispatched to a report of an apparent battered person in a parking lot near the 3300 block of Broadway. A male subject was located and transported to a local hospital for treatment for what appeared to be serious injuries consistent with a beating (i.e. not a stabbing or shooting). The male is currently in stable condition.
An Officer developed information that led to the identification of Darin Vitolo, 46 of Eureka as a suspect. On 07/07/14 detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Vitolo and detectives from the Problem Oriented Policing Unit located and arrested Vitolo. A search warrant for Vitolo’s encampment was obtained and served the same day.
Vitolo was booked into the Humboldt County Jail on $500,000 bail.
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