Driver at large after flipping pickup into Fresno canal and running away, police say

A driver who ran from a crash like something out of a Hollywood picture remained at large Friday, but he left behind a pickup that he flipped end-over-end into the McKinley Canal, police reported.

The bizarre incident took place near the Highway 168 exit to McKinley Avenue in east-central Fresno about noon.

Police spokesman Felipe Uribe said the driver probably has a serious headache after the crash, though.

It happened as the unidentified man drove on CalTrans property north toward the canal, knocked down a fence and plunged the truck end-over-end into the canal — at least a 20-foot drop. The truck landed upside down.

Uribe said members of the homeless community helped him out of the crumpled truck before the man took off on foot back the way he came. Police were unable to locate him.

The truck wasn’t stolen, but it appeared that whoever owned it never transferred the title from the previous owner, he added.