Paradise Police Detective Sergeant Hospitalized After DUI Crash
September 1, 2026 – Paradise Police Department officials report that shortly after midnight on August 29, 2026, Paradise Police Detective Sergeant Alvies was seriously injured when his fully marked patrol vehicle was struck by another vehicle on State Route 99 in the unincorporated area of Butte County.
Sergeant Alvies was returning from assisting the Gridley Police Department with patrol operations at the Butte County Fair when a vehicle driven by Butte County resident Amie Kucera struck the driver’s side of his patrol vehicle between the driver’s door and engine compartment at a high rate of speed.
Fortunately, several law enforcement officers from neighboring agencies were traveling the same stretch of Highway 99 and were able to immediately stop and render aid. Their quick actions and assistance at the scene were invaluable during the critical moments following the collision.
Kucera was believed to be under the influence and was taken into custody. Adult and juvenile passengers traveling in her vehicle were also treated for injuries sustained in the collision.
Sergeant Alvies was transported to a local hospital, where medical personnel provided lifesaving treatment and stabilized him sufficiently for transfer to a larger medical facility capable of providing the specialized care he requires. He is expected to undergo multiple surgeries as a result of the injuries he sustained. While his injuries are no longer considered life-threatening, they are significant, and Sergeant Alvies faces a long road to recovery.
The California Highway Patrol’s Oroville Area Office is conducting the investigation into the collision and suspected DUI.
The Paradise Police Department extends its sincere gratitude to the law enforcement officers who stopped and came to Sergeant Alvies’ aid. We are incredibly thankful for their immediate response, professionalism, and willingness to care for one of our own during an extraordinarily difficult situation. We are equally grateful to the firefighters, emergency medical personnel, hospital staff, and everyone else whose actions contributed to Sergeant Alvies receiving the lifesaving care he needed.
Sergeant Alvies is a valued member of the Paradise Police Department and our community. During the days and weeks ahead, our department will stand beside him and his family as he begins the difficult process of recovery. The Paradise Police Officer's Association will be coordinating fundraising and support efforts for his family. We ask that the community keep Sergeant Alvies, his family, and everyone affected by this collision in their thoughts as he continues his recovery.
Because this remains an active investigation being conducted by the California Highway Patrol, any questions regarding the circumstances of the collision or criminal investigation should be directed to the CHP Oroville Area Office.
Source & photos: Paradise Police Department
