SFGATE.COM
Suspected drunk driver injured by his own car
- Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, September 21, 2006
(09-21) 17:54 PDT CONCORD -- A Concord man who inexplicably drove at a band of bikers while waving a pool cue in Contra Costa County this morning suffered minor injuries after he got out of his car, left it in reverse gear and was struck by his own vehicle, authorities said.
The incident was one of two unrelated events that involved suspected drunken drivers and disrupted traffic along heavily traveled Highway 4.
At about 9:15 a.m., Richard Brooks, 50, whom authorities said had been drinking, was driving eastbound on Highway 4 when he saw a group of motorcycle riders, many of whom were wearing Harley-Davidson attire, including leather and skull caps, California Highway Patrol Officer Scott Yox said.
For some reason, Brooks became enraged, waved a pool cue at them and swerved toward the bikers, who split into two groups to try to get away, Yox said.
As they approached Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg, Brooks aimed his car at two bikers who had pulled off the highway, Yox said.
Brooks got out of his car with the pool cue, but before he could do anything, he was knocked down by his own car, which had been left in reverse gear, Yox said.
The impact sent Brooks sprawling into traffic. As his car continued in reverse and hit the center median of Highway 4, some of the bikers grabbed him and pulled him out of danger, Yox said.
Authorities said they had no idea why Brooks decided to go after the bikers, who kept calm and didn't assault him in retaliation, Yox said. "We don't believe they went to fisticuffs with him," he said.
Brooks suffered cuts and scratches and was taken to a Martinez hospital. He could face charges of assault with a deadly weapon and drunken driving, Yox said.
"Highway violence -- we absolutely do not condone that," Yox said. "We want to make certain that folks aren't encouraged or think they can go ahead with stuff like that."
Also today, CHP officers tried to stop Bang Luu, 29, of Fairfield for a violation on westbound Highway 4 near Bay Point, Yox said. Luu refused to stop and continued in his Toyota pickup truck to Concord, where he exited at Willow Pass Road, Yox said.
Luu crashed his truck into a parked car and fled on foot before hiding nearby, Yox said. A Contra Costa County sheriff's office canine unit and a helicopter outfitted with an infrared device found the suspect, but he ran up a hill and into eastbound traffic on Highway 4, the CHP said.
Luu was hit by someone driving a Pontiac Sunfire at 12:24 a.m., Yox said. The crash prompted the CHP to close part of eastbound Highway 4 until 6:45 a.m.
Luu was listed in critical but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. He could face charges of drunken driving and resisting arrest, Yox said.
