Alleged DUI driver hit CHP officer after Levi's soccer match

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- An unlicensed driver was arrested late Saturday in a hit-and-run crash that injured a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer after a soccer match at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CHP officials said Tuesday.

Gerardo Gonzalez Corona, 30, of Hayward, was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence causing injury, being in a hit-and-run collision that caused an injury and driving without a license or proof of insurance, according to CHP Officer Ross Lee.

At 10:30 p.m. Saturday, CHP Officer John Darling was riding his marked CHP motorcycle with other officers in a patrol escorting a bus containing the Mexican national soccer team to their hotel in San Jose following the team's match against Chile at Levi's Stadium, Lee said.

As the patrol and bus proceeded north on Stars and Stripes Drive just north of Tasman Drive near the stadium, a silver Mercedes-Benz driven by Corona was heading south on Stars and Stripes toward the officer and the rest of the patrol, Lee said.

Corona veered the Mercedes across the double-yellow line in the center of the roadway directly at Darling, who tried to evade the car by turning his motorcycle to the right but collided with it, Lee said.

The officer was ejected from the motorcycle and fell onto the street, according to the CHP.

Corona, who witnesses estimated had been driving from 25 to 30 mph when he collided with the motorcycle, then tried to drive away but other officers in the patrol pursued, stopped him and placed him under arrest, Lee said.

Darling was treated at a hospital for bruising and other minor injuries and was then released, Lee said.

From witness statements, Corona was driving from a Levi's parking lot with some passengers after attending the Mexico-Chile match, according to the CHP.

He did not intend to crash into the officer and his driving that led to the collision that night was "more than likely due to intoxication," Lee said.

The CHP is still investigating the collision, he said.