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Reporting and photos by Michelle Le
Almanac News Staff
Minutes before President Barack Obama’s motorcade headed down El Camino Real on Wednesday night, an apparent drunken driver being chased by local police sped south on El Camino, after taking out an intersection light at Center Street.
The car crashed about a block further south in front of the Pacific Inn at 2610 El Camino Real near Carlos Avenue in Redwood City.
The car nearly struck Redwood City police cadet Kylie Brandyberry, who was stationed near the Pacific Inn as part of the Obama motorcade security detail. She said she saw the car speeding toward her and people were shouting for her to run. She managed to move away fast enough to avoid getting hit by the car.
Before the crash, El Camino Real was lined with supporters, onlookers and a handful of protestors, all waiting for President Obama’s motorcade to pass by on its way to the Fox Theatre in Redwood City.
Local law enforcement worked with Secret Service agents to secure and close down the route.
At the intersection of Center Street at El Camino, many in the crowd held out their cameras and cell phones anticipating the arrival of the motorcade.
At the same time, the apparent drunken driver had come off Woodside Road heading north on El Camino, according to a witness. She said she saw the car make a U-turn at the Chevron gas station and head south on El Camino, with a few cop cars in the chase.
The crowd at Center Street and El Camino watched the vehicle hit the divide and take out the intersection light, which was carried on the roof of the car until the vehicle rode up on a sidewalk and crashed into some foliage near the Pacific Inn.
Police detained the driver. Moments later, President Obama’s motorcade drove by, heading in the other direction, toward the Fox Theatre.
Here is a video of the incident posted on YouTube.