Atwater police arrest 27-year-old suspected of driving off road to strike man with vehicle

A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Atwater after allegedly striking another man with a vehicle, according to authorities.

Atwater police officers responded at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday to a disturbance call in the 2400 block of Palm Avenue.

Arriving officers located a blue Toyota that had struck a tree in the 400 block of Fortuna Avenue. Officers also located an injured man lying on the ground near the vehicle.

According to police, when officers approached the vehicle, a different man fled from the scene on foot. The officers engaged in a foot chase and were able to detain the man, who was ultimately identified as 27-year-old Jesus Trujillo-Sanchez of Atwater.

Police said their investigation revealed that the Toyota was reportedly being driven erratically prior to the crash.

Officers later determined Trujillo-Sanchez intentionally drove the vehicle off the roadway to strike the victim.

In addition, police discovered that Trujillo-Sanchez is the brother of the injured man’s girlfriend.

The man who was struck by the Toyota was flown to a Modesto hospital for treatment of serious injuries, according to police.

Trujillo-Sanchez was arrested and booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of felony attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, according to jail records. According to police, the incident remains under investigation.