Sheriff patrol vehicle struck in suspected DUI collision

Madera County Sheriff deputy Nathaniel Cooper was responding to a call for service regarding a suspected DUI driver.

While enroute to the call, in the area of Road 27 and Avenue 17 shortly before midnight Thursday, the driver’s side of his patrol vehicle was struck by a car that ran the stop sign.

Deputy Cooper was able to exit his patrol vehicle from the passenger side door and locate the suspect’s car disabled in the roadway with the driver inside. The driver, identified as Alexis Zarate Aguilar, initially refused to exit his vehicle and attempted to flee the scene prior to being taken into custody.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to the crash and performed field sobriety tests, which determined 24-year-old Aguilar was under the influence. They also learned that the suspect was possibly involved in several other hit and run collisions within the city and county limits of Madera. Aguilar was booked on multiple charges, including felony driving under the influence, felony hit and run, and resisting arrest.

Deputy Cooper received minor injuries as a result of the collision.

Sheriff Tyson Pogue remarked, “Deputies face the unknown during every shift, and we thank Deputy Cooper for his immediate call to action that resulted in preventing this suspect from causing any further harm to our community. We are grateful his injuries were minor, and wish him a swift recovery.”