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Members of the San Jose Police Department and the San Jose Fire Department check out a home on the 200 block of Hedding St. that was damaged by a hit-and-run driver on Monday, Aug. 20, 2012 in San Jose, Calif. The driver apparently tried to drive away, but was apprehended by members of the police department. The San Jose Police Department are investigating this case as a possible DUI. (Gary Reyes/ Staff)

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SAN JOSE -- A motorist was arrested after careening into a house and taking off before he was stopped and arrested north of Japantown on Monday afternoon, police said.

Police got a call about 1:25 p.m. reporting a collision at a vacant home in the 200 block of East Hedding Street, Officer Jose Garcia said. No one was inside the home, and witnesses said a silver Dodge Ram pickup smashed into the home and drove away.

Officers spotted and stopped the vehicle about a block away near East Mission and North Third streets, Garcia said. The driver surrendered peacefully and was taken to the hospital for a routine evaluation and treatment of minor to moderate injuries, and was expected to be booked on suspicion of hit-and-run upon his release.

Garcia said investigators will explore whether the driver, whose identity was not immediately available, was impaired.

Contact Robert Salonga at 408-920-5002. Follow him at Twitter.com/robertsalonga.