South Lake Tahoe man arrested after alleged DUI hit-and-run

Officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department arrested a 33-year-old local man on several charges Saturday morning after he allegedly hit a cyclist with his vehicle after driving under the influence of alcohol.

Larry Martinez Guzman is suspected of drinking and driving his Jeep while intoxicated on March 18, hitting a 24-year-old man who was riding his bicycle on Pioneer Trail, and leaving the scene. Guzman allegedly hit the unidentified cyclist with his vehicle as he attempted to turn onto Midway Avenue just before 7:30 a.m., causing injuries to the cyclist. Prior to hitting the cyclist it was reported Guzman was weaving in his lane and narrowly missed hitting another vehicle.

A witness saw Guzman leave the scene, so he called 911 and followed him to a side street off of Glenwood Way. According SLTPD Sgt. Shannon Laney, Guzman turned his Jeep around and drove directly at the unidentified witness who was able to use evasive maneuvers and avoid a collision.

Guzman fled the area.

SLTPD went to his home in the Bijou Neighborhood where they found the Jeep in the driveway. The vehicle had front end damage consistent with contact with the cyclist. Officers found Guzman asleep in his bed, woke him up. They found his Blood Alcohol Level to be .21 percent, almost triple the legal limit of .08 percent.

Guzman was arrested at 8:45 a.m. Saturday and booked into the El Dorado County Jail. He remains there Monday morning with a bail of $205,000 on charges of DUI Alcohol Causing Bodily Injuries, Hit and Run Causing Injury, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Hit and Run causing Death or Injury.

The cyclist injured as he was knocked off his bicycle was not transported to the hospital.

-South Tahoe Now Staff Report