Suspected DUI driver arrested after crashing in Berkeley twice

Berkeley police arrested a suspected intoxicated driver who crashed twice Friday morning within just 2 miles, authorities report.

The driver injured a motorist in the first collision and then crashed into a pole in front of police, according to BPD.

The incident began Friday when police say Daniel Lithgow rear-ended a driver, who then struck a second vehicle, at a stoplight on westbound Alcatraz Avenue at Sacramento Street.

According to police, Lithgow stopped to exchange information with the other drivers but left before officers arrived at about 11 a.m.

Witnesses to the crash told BPD it appeared he "may have been impaired."

Berkeley police began looking for Lithgow and spotted his 2002 Toyota Tacoma heading north on Sacramento Street near University Avenue a few minutes later, authorities said.

When officers tried to stop him, Lithgow crashed into a power pole as he pulled over to the curb, according to police.

Read more about traffic safety in Berkeley.

A reader asked TBS for details after seeing police cruisers blocking Sacramento at University at about 11:30 a.m. while "many people were exiting the [7-Eleven] store."

Daniel Lithgow. BPD

Officers ultimately arrested Lithgow, following a series of field sobriety tests, on suspicion of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, in connection with neck and back pain reported by one of the other drivers, BPD said.

Lithgow also was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription after police found an unprescribed Xanax pill during a search, police said.

As of this week, Lithgow, who is 54 and lives in San Francisco, is no longer in custody, according to available records. His next court date was not posted.

As of publication time, no charges appeared to have been filed against Lithgow, but that process generally takes longer when defendants are out of custody.