California authorities have arrested a truckdriver suspected of causing a fatal accident on Colorado's I-70 last month when he made an illegal U-turn in his tractor-trailer. An impression left by an advertising plaque helped investigators track the driver.

Gabril Contreras Martinez, of Tehachapi, CA, faces felony charges of criminally negligent homicide, hit-and-run involving a fatality, two counts of hit-and-run involving severe bodily injury, tampering with evidence and various misdemeanors.

Investigators believe Martinez was driving a semi Oct. 15 when it made an illegal U-turn in the eastbound lanes of I-70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel. A pickup truck driven by Brian Neveln crashed into the rear of the tractor-trailer.

The crash killed Neveln and seriously injured his two passengers.

The impact left parts of the pickup stuck underneath the rig. After completing the U-turn, the semi's driver allegedly drove about a mile down the road, stopped and pulled the pickup's hood off his trailer.

Investigators later found the imprint of three numbers of a telephone number that came from a plaque affixed to the semitrailer. Five days later, an investigator saw an advertisement for the company that made the decals for the sides of trailers.

The last three numbers for the company were a match with the numbers from the hood. Through the company, investigators learned JC Trucking, of Bakersfield, CA, had purchased its trailers.

A JC Trucking semi reportedly cleared the weigh station at Loma, west of Grand Junction, about 6:15 p.m. the night of the accident, which officials said would put the truck near the scene around the time of the accident.

California officials later arrested Martinez near his home after a short foot chase.