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California man arrested after crashing into high school runners

All eight runners were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries

Published December 11, 2025

OnTheScene.TV

A southern California man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol after crashing into a group of eight Anaheim High School runners who were out for a training run on Tuesday.

The incident occurred less than a mile from Anaheim High School in Anaheim, Calif., around 3 p.m. According to the Los Angeles Times, the driver was not speeding, but lost control of his car and plowed into a group of runners who were waiting at a red light to cross the street. All eight runners, who were between 16 and 17, were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.

When police arrived on the scene, they found an orange Toyota Corolla on the sidewalk with significant front-end damage. The car appears to have crashed into a garden wall. Anthony Alva-Palafox, 27, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of what police say was a combination of drugs and alcohol.

According to NBC Los Angeles, the Anaheim High School track coach had been closely following the group and was the first to reach the scene. On Thursday morning, NBC L.A. reported that four of the eight injured runners had been released from the hospital. A coach from a nearby high school called the incident “every coach’s worst nightmare” in a comment to the Times.

Alva-Palafox’s car was impounded, and he remains in custody as he awaits charges from the Anaheim Police Department.

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