Teen killed, 3 others injured in suspected DUI crash in Petaluma after pursuit, police say
A 14-year-old is dead and a 17-year-old is suspected of DUI and vehicular manslaughter after a pursuit of a stolen vehicle ended in a crash in Petaluma Saturday night, police said on Sunday.
Officers said they spotted a possible DUI driver on Lakeville Highway in the area of S McDowell Boulevard in Petaluma around 10:10 p.m. Saturday. About five minutes later, police said officers in a marked patrol vehicle attempted to stop the driver of the black Kia Sol after seeing them swerve into oncoming traffic.
The driver took off from officers, beginning a police chase, police said.
The police department said the officers saw the driver sideswiping a vehicle heading in the opposite direction. No injuries were reported in this incident.
About three minutes after officers attempted to pull the driver over, police said the Kia Sol was involved in a rollover crash.
All four of the occupants in the vehicle were ejected from the vehicle, with one passenger dying at the scene, police said.
Police said the passenger who died was a 14-year-old boy. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old passenger were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and are stable, police said.
The driver, 17, was taken to a hospital where he is stable, police said.
The teen driver is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, police said. He will be booked into juvenile hall after his release from the hospital on multiple charges, including vehicular manslaughter, evading causing great bodily injury or death, and DUI causing great bodily injury or death, the police department said.
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office identified the deceased as Aldo Rodriguez Cazarez of Novato. His autopsy is scheduled for Monday and more information about the cause of death may be released at a later time once the coroner's report is complete.
Police said all the boys are from Marin County, but their relationship is part of the investigation.
People in the area consider Lakeville Highway to be one of the busiest and most dangerous roads in Sonoma County.
"We saw a Kia racing down the street, a cop following, they stopped around that bender over there and then all of a sudden you heard more cops, more cars, a fire truck, ambulances," said Gigi Hirzu, remembering the events of the Saturday night.
Hirzu works at Ernie's Tin Bar, on the corner of Lakeville highway and Stage Gulch road, just about a half mile away from the crash site.
"There [are] quite a few accidents," Hirzu explained. "I've seen my fair share of deaths and loss here, so it can be a little stifling. It's quite dangerous."
Hirzu said this road puts people at a higher risk of an accident, and the community and city leaders are trying to change that.
"It is a concern, we have petitioned for a roundabout which I believe is supposed to break ground in October or such," Hirzu detailed. "If they don't get it started this year, it will be the following."
The Santa Rosa Police Department is investigating the incidents leading up to the crash. The California Highway Patrol is looking into the crash itself. Investigators are still actively investigating this incident, including vehicle speed, whether the juveniles were wearing seatbelts, and the cause of the collision.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the SRPD tip line at 707-543-3590 or submit an .
