A female civilian Traffic Control Assistant (TCA) was critically injured early Saturday afternoon when her vehicle was struck by a driver who is suspected of driving under the influence of methamphetamine and marijuana.
The APD employee was performing traffic control duties on La Palma Avenue across the street from Servite High School when the collision occurred. She was stopped and seated in a marked traffic vehicle blocking traffic in the westbound number two lane of La Palma Avenue when the suspect vehicle, a blue 2017 Toyota Tundra, struck her from behind. She was ejected from the vehicle and suffered critical injuries. Co-workers and paramedics rendered medical aid and she was transported to a local trauma center where she remains in critical condition.
The driver of the suspect vehicle, Jose Alfredo Alcantar Garcia, a 34 year old resident of Placentia, was booked at the Anaheim Detention Facility Charges include felony driving under the influence of drugs causing great bodily injury, possession of methamphetamine for sale, transportation of methamphetamine, and driving on a suspended driver’s license. His bail is statutorily set at 100,000.
As the investigation has continued, the Anaheim Police can now confirm that suspect, Garcia, was involved in another hit and run collision about one hour prior to the collision that critically injured the APD Traffic Control Assistant. During the prior collision, Garcia struck another vehicle and fled the scene eastbound on La Palma Ave. There were no injuries in that collision. About one hour later, he was travelling back westbound on La Palma Ave when he struck the Anaheim employee. As a result, the additional booking charge of 20002(a), misdemeanor hit and run has been added.
