Arrest in crash that killed 5

<p>Ryan Karr, the Santa Rosa man involved in a fiery crash on Highway 101 that killed five people, was arrested Thursday as authorities for the first time drew a link to drugs.</p><p>Karr, 26, was booked on five felony counts of committing vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated but without gross negligence, prosecutors said.</p><p>Court records also list five misdemeanor counts of vehicular manslaughter and a single count of being under the influence of a controlled substance.</p><p>Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook identified the substance as cocaine but refused to elaborate or provide a copy of the complaint filed against Karr.</p><p>He was arrested Thursday morning at his Rincon Valley home, a little more than 11 months after the Jan. 17 crash in rush-hour traffic on Highway 101 near Windsor.</p><p>"I always thought that eventually (Karr) would have to go to jail," said Francisca Jimenez, whose 5-year-old nephew is the only other survivor of the crash. "It wasn't just a dog that he killed, it was a whole family."</p><p>Karr's lawyer, Andy Martinez, said the filing of alternative manslaughter charges suggests prosecutors don't have the evidence to prove Karr was driving while intoxicated.</p><p>If that's the case, he said, charges probably will be reduced to misdemeanors at a preliminary hearing.</p><p>Martinez criticized authorities for arresting a remorseful man who has cooperated with investigators all along. The CHP investigative report was turned over to the district attorney in November.</p><p>"They wait this long, five days before Christmas, and they find the need to go arrest him?" he said. "This is absolutely the worst case of grandstanding I have ever seen."</p><p>District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua had left for the holiday and couldn't be reached, a spokeswoman said Thursday. He didn't respond to a message left on his cell phone.</p><p>CHP officers said the investigation was complicated by multiple fatalities and it took months to compile coroner's reports, an accident reconstruction, a voluntary blood sample from Karr and interviews with drivers, witnesses and citizens who tried to help the victims.</p><p>Investigators said Karr was driving north in a Mitsubishi coupe when he rear-ended a Honda Civic carrying six passengers.</p><p>The Honda burst into flames, trapping five occupants. Witnesses rescued 5-year-old Christian Flores Carlos, who was hospitalized for months with severe burns and lost part of an arm and a leg.</p><p>His mother, Edith Carlos Medina, 23, was driving and suffered fatal injuries.</p><p>So did his grandmother Maria Lopez Camacho, 54; brother, Fernando Flores Carlos, 7; and aunts Almadelia Mendera-Basurto, 16, and Carmina Solorio, 23.</p><p>Solorio was from Mexico. The others were from Windsor.</p><p>Karr reportedly told investigators he was not paying attention when the crash happened.</p><p>He estimated he was traveling 30 to 40 mph when he hit the Honda but some witnesses put his speed at as much as 70 mph.</p><p>Christian's aunt welcomed the news of Karr's arrest.</p><p>"I just don't know why he wasn't arrested sooner," she said.</p><p>Jimenez said Christian's physical condition continues to improve. She said he attends school in a wheelchair and can walk with the help of others using a prosthetic leg.</p><p>But Jimenez said he continues to suffer emotionally from the loss of his mother, older brother, grandmother and aunts.</p><p>Karr was released on $100,000 bail, according to jail personnel. A court appearance scheduled for Monday is likely to be postponed.</p><p>If convicted of all counts, Karr could be sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, Cook said.</p><p>Staff Writer Martin Espinoza contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 521-5250 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.</p>