By Khalida Sarwari
A man suspected of driving under the influence struck several police vehicles and injured three police officers that were responding to a shooting in San Jose early this morning.
The crash occurred at about 12:30 a.m. in the area of East Santa Clara Street just east of 17th Street, according to police.
Officers had responded to a report of a shooting nearby involving two suspects and one victim, police officials said.
The male victim was struck by at least two rounds, but his injuries were not life-threatening, police officials said.
As officers were investigating the shooting, a man driving east on East Santa Clara Street crashed into a parked patrol vehicle from behind, forcing that vehicle to strike a second patrol car, which in turn crashed into a third patrol vehicle, according to police.
One of the vehicles struck a sergeant and an officer who were standing nearby. They sustained minor injuries.
A third officer who was sitting in one of the patrol vehicles suffered moderate injuries, police officials said.
All three were transported to a hospital for treatment and were released.
Officers determined the man, Jose Luis Velez-Pillado, 29, of San Jose, was driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Velez-Pillado was treated at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and was then booked at the Santa Clara County main jail on suspicion of felony DUI and driving with a suspended license.
Police are investigating the shooting and ask anyone with information to call the assault unit at (408) 277-4161 or anonymously by calling the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP (7867) or by visiting http://svcrimestoppers.org/.