Crime & Safety

Man Arrested for Hit and Run in Menlo Park

A Palo Alto resident driving a Jetta crashed into two cars on El Camino Real in Menlo Park during happy hour.

A Palo Alto resident was arrested Friday night for hitting two cars in Menlo Park during happy hour and leaving the scene.

Menlo Park Police said that Michael Ford, 37, was driving his white Volkswagen Jetta toward El Camino Real on Santa Cruz Avenue at about 6 p.m. on Friday when he crashed into the back of a Ford Escape that was stopped at the light.

“He got out to exchange info,” said Nicole Acker, Menlo Park Police Spokesperson.  “Then he got back into his car and left and hit another car as he was leaving,” Acker told Patch. That vehicle was a Nissan Altima, which was driving south on El Camino Real.

Ford drove away from the scene southbound on El Camino Real, presumably to his home in Palo Alto, where Menlo Park Police arrested him. 

Police tracked him down by his license plate number. Ford was arrested later that night and charged with a felony hit and run, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol. He was booked in to San Mateo County Jail.  The case was forwarded to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office for prosecution.

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The driver of the Ford Escape was treated for minor injuries at the scene.  


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