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'My father didn't raise any cowards'
Man's quick action helped lead to arrest
Updated: Friday, 03 Feb 2012, 6:18 PM CST
Published : Friday, 03 Feb 2012, 4:15 PM CST
David Scott
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Say this for Sisto Perez, he's no bystander.
The contractor and father of four was riding his motorcycle in Downtown Austin early Friday when he saw an Chevy Impala hit three pedestrians and keep on going.
"He plowed through those people like they weren't even there. He didn't slow down, no brakes, no nothing," Perez said later in the day. "I took off after him. I headed down Eighth Street heading west when he hit a bunch of mail boxes on the corner of Congress."
Perez said he lost sight if the Impala -- but not for long.
"I heard a 'kabam!' on top of the hill," he said. "I took off again flying after him. Sure enough I see him and he had apparently hit another vehicle, and he kept going, we crossed Colorado [Street] and I'm yelling and screaming at him, playing chicken on my motorcycle with him."
Perez, who admitted to yelling a few choice words along the way, finally managed to catch up to the Impala when it came to a crashing halt.
The driver inside, later identified as 22-year-old Nicholas Colunga, appeared to Perez to be intoxicated.
"He said, 'I'm not trying to resist,' and I grabbed hold of him, pulled him to the side, kicked him in the knee and dropped him to the ground."
Perez sat on the man as curious bystanders approached.
"I had him subdued already he wasn't going anywhere," Perez said." And I asked a young lady to give me her belt. She gave me her belt so I hogtied his butt and put him against the car."
Meanwhile, University of Texas soccer player Kylie Doniak, 22, was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge in critical condition from injuries in the hit-and-run. A man and a woman who were with Doniak were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Soon police took over. Colunga was arrested on one count of intoxication assault and two counts of failure to stop and render aid.
In a twist of fate, Perez and the police officer recognized each other. Nine months ago, Perezo saw a woman driver strike a pedestrian in a hit and run. He gave chase, caught her and grabbed her car keys. That very same officer was first on the scene.
Asked why he would put himself at risk in such a situation, Perez had a straight-forward answer.
"My father didn't raise any cowards in my family. I come from a pretty good family I think and the one thing we don't lack, being cowards, we're just not cowards whenever someone needs some help."
Man's quick action helped lead to arrest
Updated: Friday, 03 Feb 2012, 6:18 PM CST
Published : Friday, 03 Feb 2012, 4:15 PM CST
David Scott
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Say this for Sisto Perez, he's no bystander.
The contractor and father of four was riding his motorcycle in Downtown Austin early Friday when he saw an Chevy Impala hit three pedestrians and keep on going.
"He plowed through those people like they weren't even there. He didn't slow down, no brakes, no nothing," Perez said later in the day. "I took off after him. I headed down Eighth Street heading west when he hit a bunch of mail boxes on the corner of Congress."
Perez said he lost sight if the Impala -- but not for long.
"I heard a 'kabam!' on top of the hill," he said. "I took off again flying after him. Sure enough I see him and he had apparently hit another vehicle, and he kept going, we crossed Colorado [Street] and I'm yelling and screaming at him, playing chicken on my motorcycle with him."
Perez, who admitted to yelling a few choice words along the way, finally managed to catch up to the Impala when it came to a crashing halt.
The driver inside, later identified as 22-year-old Nicholas Colunga, appeared to Perez to be intoxicated.
"He said, 'I'm not trying to resist,' and I grabbed hold of him, pulled him to the side, kicked him in the knee and dropped him to the ground."
Perez sat on the man as curious bystanders approached.
"I had him subdued already he wasn't going anywhere," Perez said." And I asked a young lady to give me her belt. She gave me her belt so I hogtied his butt and put him against the car."
Meanwhile, University of Texas soccer player Kylie Doniak, 22, was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge in critical condition from injuries in the hit-and-run. A man and a woman who were with Doniak were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Soon police took over. Colunga was arrested on one count of intoxication assault and two counts of failure to stop and render aid.
In a twist of fate, Perez and the police officer recognized each other. Nine months ago, Perezo saw a woman driver strike a pedestrian in a hit and run. He gave chase, caught her and grabbed her car keys. That very same officer was first on the scene.
Asked why he would put himself at risk in such a situation, Perez had a straight-forward answer.
"My father didn't raise any cowards in my family. I come from a pretty good family I think and the one thing we don't lack, being cowards, we're just not cowards whenever someone needs some help."
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