A sleeping Ceres man and his son were critically injured early Thursday morning when they were struck by a car that smashed into the front of their house and entered the bedroom where both were sleeping.

The crash occurred at 2:15 a.m. in the 2400 block of Caswell Avenue.

The 27-year-old man's 8-year-old son was also in the room and sustained more minor injuries.

Police say the driver, who ran from the scene and may have been picked up by another vehicle, may have been intoxicated or just extremely reckless. A trail of blood was followed to the 2500 block of Caswell Avenue where it ended.

Ceres Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jose Berber said that the silver 2001 Mitsubishi Galant was driven at a high rate of speed northbound on Sixth Street and failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Caswell Avenue. The Mitsubishi crossed Caswell Avenue into the front yard of the home, first striking a raised planter and launching the vehicle into the bedroom where the father and son were asleep.

Police officers and firefighters arrived and rescued the father who was trapped under the car. The boy had been removed from the room by family members prior to the arrival of emergency workers. Both were rushed to local hospitals for treatment of injuries. The boy suffered from a broken femur. The father sustained two broken legs, burns, cuts and internal injuries. They were both critical but in stable condition.

Sgt. Berber said officers are working to identify the driver and determine the cause of the collision.

"Speed was a contributing factor however, we have not established if alcohol was involved," said Sgt. Berber.

Police encourage anyone with information on the driver to call Ceres Police Officer Keith Kitcher at 538-5620 or Ceres Police Dispatch at 538-5712.