The weekend traffic accident on West Ridge Road that involved a utility pole led to a manhunt that ended with a motorist behind bars charged with DUI, among other things. Roselvino Martinez-Ramos, 31, is being held on bonds totaling $14,160 and is also being held for immigration authorities.
“Police responded to a single vehicle crash at around 4:30 a.m. at 862 West Ridge Road,” Gainesville Police spokesman Kevin Holbrook said Monday. “A 2003 Ford Super Duty left the roadway, striking a utility pole, causing significant damage.”
Capt. Holbrook said Martinez-Ramos left the scene prior to officers’ arrival.
K9 units were able to locate Martinez-Ramos and he was taken into custody. Hall County Jail records show him charged with, in addition to DUI, resisting arrest, driver’s license violation, hit-and-run, no proof of minimum insurance, and failure to maintain lane.
“Georgia Power was unable to make it to the scene until later in the afternoon, causing the roadway to remain closed,” Holbrook added. “The repairs took a couple of hours once Georgia Power arrived.”
EARLIER STORY. POSTED SATURDAY MORNING:
West Ridge Road is closed from E.E. Butler Parkway to Athens Street, according to Gainesville Police.
They ask that motorists avoid the area and use an alternate route.
No other details were released by police, but numerous social media posts say it’s because of a traffic accident involving a utility pole.