Drunk man allegedly steals Hilux truck, collides with another’s car

A car allegedly stolen by an intoxicated man from an auto shop in Gualo Rai last Tuesday collided with another vehicle along Chalan Kiya Drive shortly that same day.

Ryan Rabauliman Pua, 31, was arrested for theft of vehicle, reckless driving, and criminal mischief.

Police said that Pua admitted to stealing a Toyota Hilux pickup truck with license plate ACS 176.

His bail was set Thursday at $15,000 cash; preliminary hearing is on Jan. 5 at 9am.

Assistant public defender Nancy Dominski was appointed as counsel for Pua. Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas appeared for the government.

Police said that three police officers responded to XO Market in Gualo Rai on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 4:35pm, in response to a theft incident.

While one officer was entertaining the theft complaint, the owner of an auto shop near the store approached the two officers and asked them to chase his Toyota Hilux, which had just been stolen from his shop five minutes ago.

The two officers gave chase to the truck that headed southbound on Chalan Pale Arnold Road. The two officers lost sight of the truck and returned to the scene to investigate the theft of vehicle complaint.

DPS then sent out a bulletin to alert officers to be on the lookout for a Toyota Hilux with license plate ACS-176.

The shop’s owner told police that he had arrived at his Tech Auto repair shop after purchasing some parts and parked his vehicle by the entrance of the shop, turned off the ignition but left the key inside.

Five minutes later, the shop’s owner heard the engine of his truck start and saw it leaving the area being driven by a man, later identified as Pua.

At 5:06pm, police officers responded near Circle K Apartment near Chalan Kiya Drive, where a vehicular crash had happened.

Upon arriving at the scene, traffic investigator Norris Kwon noticed that the car involved in the crash was the stolen Toyota Hilux.

Kwon determined that it was Pua who was the driver of the stolen Toyota Hilux and caused the crash that damaged the truck and another vehicle.

The driver of the other vehicle, Norberto D. Camacho, told police that the Toyota Hilux was speeding when the driver lost control and struck his vehicle.

The shop’s owner and a witness were escorted to the crash scene, where they identified Pua as the person who stole the truck from the auto shop.

Upon detecting a strong odor of alcoholic beverage, Pua was processed for driving while under the influence of alcohol. He was later found with a blood alcohol content of .200 percent, which exceeds the legal limit.