A recent road incident has taken an unexpected turn as it involves a well-known figure from the local education scene. Hollis Blake, the vice principal at George Komure Elementary School in Stockton, was arrested on charges of vehicular manslaughter and two counts of DUI, according to the Manteca Unified School District.Following his arrest on Sunday, Blake was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail, with bail set at a hefty $1.25 million, as per jail records.
Due to the severity of the allegations, Manteca Unified School District has promptly placed Blake on administrative leave and prohibited him from entering district properties. Additionally, any form of communication between Blake and school staff or students is currently banned. Blake had been serving the district since July 1, 2021.
Details shared by the CHP depict a grisly scene that unfolded just before midnight on Saturday. Blake's sedan reportedly collided with an SUV while both were traveling southbound on Interstate 5, near March Lane in Stockton. This impact caused the SUV to crash into the center divider. Regrettably, one adult passenger from the SUV was declared dead at the site, while other occupants were rushed to the hospital with injuries, thankfully not deemed life-threatening.
Given the circumstances, the attending officers arrested Blake on-site on DUI suspicions.
Reacting to the incident, Manteca Unified School District extended their deepest condolences, stating, "Our sympathy and condolences are with the families of those impacted by this terrible incident." As a measure of support for affected students, George Komure Elementary School has arranged for on-campus counseling.
Prior to his role at George Komure, Blake served as the principal at Great Valley Elementary School and held an assistant principal position in the Stockton Unified School District. This information surfaced from an earlier post on the district's official Facebook page.
The incident's tragic nature has undeniably rocked the local community, which now awaits further developments in the investigation.
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