Suspected DUI leads to crash in Chico

A late-night crash at West First Avenue and The Esplanade resulted in a DUI arrest as well as a traffic signal going dark.

It began when Chico Police Department officers were sent to the area of The Esplanade close to Panama Avenue to respond to a Ford Mustang acting erratically at around 10:55 p.m. Tuesday, according to a press release issued Wednesday by the department.

Officers couldn’t find the vehicle at the time, but roughly two hours later, what is believed by law enforcement to be the same vehicle was reported to have been in a collision with another car. at West 1st Avenue and Esplanade.

According to the release, the driver of the Mustang was identified as Rebecca Griffiths, 19. Police say the Mustang was driving southbound on The Esplanade when it ran a red light and hit another vehicle driving westbound.

The Mustang then slid into a control box for the intersection lights causing them to go offline for a period.

Officers say Griffiths was deemed to be intoxicated and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, a felony due to injuries being involved, and transported to the Butte County Jail.

The driver of the other involved vehicle had minor injuries and was taken to the hospital to be checked on.

Chico Public Works arrived at the scene to fix the traffic control box.