A vehicle that was reported stolen late Monday afternoon was, a short time later, involved in a collision.
Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester reported this morning that officers were sent to the 500 block of South Ninth Street at approximately 4:50 p.m. Monday for the report of a stolen vehicle. The reporting party told police that she had borrowed a 2006 Hyundai Sonata from a friend. She said she had parked the car in the driveway of a residence in the 500 block of South Ninth Street and left the vehicle running while she went inside for a few minutes, Forrester explained. When she came outside the vehicle was gone. The Sonata was valued at $2,000, he added.
According to Forrester, during the contact with the woman, officers were sent to the 100 block of South Clark Street for the report of a hit and run accident that had just occurred.
In that incident, a 2006 Ford F250 pickup driven by Darrin Francisco, 41, of Salina, was westbound on University Place, approaching South Clark Street. As the pickup proceeded through the South Clark Street intersection, it was struck by a 2006 Hyundai Sonata that was southbound on South Clark Street, Forrester explained. The Sonata spun around an came to rest against a 2011 Suzuki SX4 that was parked on the street, he added.
The driver of the Sonata, described by witnesses as a male subject wearing a gray hoodie and tan sweats, fled on foot, Forrester reported. The witness description of the male does not match the owner or reporting party in the stolen vehicle case, he added.
The pickup had front passenger-side damage, while the Sonata had major front-end damage, According to Forrester. The Suzuki had no noticeable damage, he noted. The Sonata was released to the owner.
Francisco was cited for failure to yield the right of way, Forrester reported.