A 22-year-old Manteca man was arrested early Tuesday morning after allegedly running a red light and broadsiding a City of Manteca garbage truck – injuring himself and his passenger and both city workers while sending his 2013 Chevrolet Imapla up in flames – and then fleeing the scene. 

Manual Valim was arrested by Manteca Police officers about a block away from the accident that ultimately led to a hours-long closure of South Main Street and the intersection with East Wetmore Ave. Valim suffered moderate injuries in the accident, and his 26-year-old female passenger suffered a broken wrist. 

According to Manteca Police, Valim was traveling northbound on S. Main Street when he failed to stop at the red light at E. Wetmore Street. A City of Manteca garbage truck carrying two city workers was headed west on E. Wetmore and into the intersection at S. Main Street when it was broadsided by the Impala being driven by Valim. Both city workers were transported to area hospitals via ambulance for treatment of moderate injuries. 

After the collision, the garbage truck proceeded to dump upwards of 50 gallons of hydraulic fluid into the intersection, which prompted responding officers to close the area until it could be contained and cleaned up. The closure lasted for several hours. All traffic through the area Tuesday morning was rerouted while crews worked to mop up the fluid. 

While Valim was transported to the hospital via ambulance, he was subsequently cited and released on a felony count of hit and run with injury. 

According to Manteca Police, Valim made no attempts to provide aid to any of the injured in parties in the accident before attempting to flee – something that factored into the decision to charge him with the crime.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.