BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – Deputies say a Baton Rouge man hit three vehicles, causing one to hit another car. When the drivers pulled out of traffic, he reportedly took one of the trucks he’d hit and fled the scene.
According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Salvador Buitrago, 44, reportedly struck multiple vehicles at the intersection of Burbank Drive and Bluebonnet Boulevard around 8:43 p.m. Friday. He reportedly was driving a Ford F-150.
Deputies said traffic was stopped at a red light when Buitrago side-swiped a Toyota 4Runner, struck a Dodge Ram, causing it to rear-end a Toyota Corolla, and then rear-ended a Chevrolet Silverado.
According to deputies, as the drivers involved in the wreck pulled over to figure out what was happening, Buitrago got out of his vehicle and approached the Silverado’s driver. Deputies say Buitrago got into the man’s truck and repeatedly ordered him to, “Drive.”
According to an affidavit, the driver was so thrown by Buitrago’s erratic behavior that he got out of his truck. Deputies say Buitrago slid into the empty driver’s seat and took off.
Shortly after this, deputies started patrolling the area for the missing truck. Buitrago reportedly crashed the Silverado into a support wire for a power line and injured himself. He was sitting in the back seat of the truck when found and had an abrasion on his head.
Authorities reported that he appeared to be suffering from a mental health breakdown. They took Buitrago to a hospital for treatment.
Deputies also reported finding unlabeled and loose pills in Buitrago’s vehicle, adding that they were amphetamines that require a valid prescription for possession and use. There was no pill bottle with the medicine.
Buitrago was charged with four counts of hit and run, theft of a motor vehicle, reckless operation of a vehicle, and possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Dangerous Substance.
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