A man from San Diego’s North County was arrested Friday after hurting several people in five separate hit-and-runs – all in one night – and leading deputies on a pursuit.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) said Michael Dorman, 26, was taken into custody on Driftwood Way in Oceanside on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after a bizarre series of hit-and-runs that happened within less than two hours.
According to the SDSO, it all began around 5 p.m. when Dorman struck a pedestrian in the parking lot of an Albertson’s grocery store at 1301 E. Vista Way in Vista. Dorman fled after the collision; the victim in that first incident suffered shoulder and hip pain and was taken to a local hospital.
As deputies investigated the hit-and-run at the Albertson’s parking lot, they received two additional calls of hit-and-run within five minutes in that same area, on Arcadia Avenue. The SDSO said those calls included another pedestrian hit by a car. That victim suffered head and leg injuries and was airlifted to Palomar Medical Center. The third hit-and-run involved the suspect colliding with another driver.
In all three hit-and-runs, the suspect was driving a white Ford Explorer, officials said.
Moments later, deputies were called to yet another hit-and-run at 500 Hacienda Dr. This time, two pedestrians were hit – again by a driver in a white Ford Explorer. Those victims suffered minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals.
There, deputies learned that the suspect in all of the incidents was Dorman. Witnesses told deputies that Dorman appeared to be intentionally swerving to hit those two pedestrians in the Hacienda Drive incident. Dorman had also allegedly sideswiped another car on purpose on Vista Village Drive and was speeding, witnesses told investigators.
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Soon, a fifth hit-and-run collision was reported in the 700 block of East Bobier, just blocks away. Again, Dorman was the suspect.
At this point, deputies tracked down Dorman and tried to pull him over on Anza Drive and Ishihara Road on Vista.
He fled, and a pursuit ensued, lasting for about 15 minutes as Dorman sped through Vista and Oceanside. Deputies said Dorman hit at least two other cars and a tree as he tried to escape.
Finally, just before 6:40 p.m., deputies were able to stop and arrest Dorman in Oceanside. He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on nearly a dozen charges, including DUI, driving while on probation and attempted murder.
Jail booking records indicate he was driving with a blood-alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit. Dorman is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this case can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
