Arcatan busted for DUI, hit and run

Benjamin Batini allegedly struck pedestrian, drove off

Humboldt Sentinel staff
10/4/09

Arcata

An Arcata man is sitting in county jail today after a hit-and-run incident early yesterday morning landed a local woman in the hospital.

At about 2:00 a.m. Arcata Police Department officers responded to a reported traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at the four-way stop at 11th and F Street. Upon their arrival, responding APD units found a pedestrian who had been struck and suffered an injury to her wrist.

The victim described their assailant as driving a black Chevrolet sport utility vehicle and heading eastbound on 11th Street. In the course of their investigation, officers located the vehicle parked on the 1200 block of Spring Street, and were approached by the owner of the vehicle, 21-year-old Arcata resident Benjamin Batini. He was promptly arrested and booked on charges of felony hit and run and felony driving under the influence.

The pedestrian, a 21-year-old female not identified by the release issued by APD, was transported to Mad River Hospital by ambulance, treated for a fractured wrist, and later released.