March crash called homicide, but no arrest

The death of a Rohnert Park teen in a March car crash in which high speed was a key factor remains under investigation more than six months later.

The Sonoma County Coroner's Office classified the death of 16-year-old Kevin Carr-Grillo as a homicide rather than an accident, suggesting grounds for prosecution.

Rohnert Park police have made it clear they consider the 17-year-old driver a criminal suspect, and said they expect to conclude their investigation soon.

Carr-Grillo's parents say they want the driver, identified by friends and classmates as Tyler Canales, prosecuted for the death of their son.

"They haven't done anything," Michelle Grillo of Rohnert Park said of the police. "He's still running around."

Rohnert Park Public Safety Detective Sgt. Joe Ferronato said lab results he's awaiting from the state could provide the final piece necessary to proceed with the case.

Neither Canales nor his mother, to whom the car was registered, returned calls seeking comment.

Police said the young driver was traveling at least 70 mph in a 35-mph zone as he headed up Camino Colegio toward El Camino Continuation School on the morning of March 20. He lost control as he rounded a curve, sending the Honda Accord into the center median.

The impact catapulted the car end-over-end into the air, where it sheared off the top of a tree at a height of 8 or 10 feet before landing wrecked on the street.

Canales had been licensed for only six weeks and was carrying passengers in violation of his provisional license, which allowed teen passengers only with a licensed adult in the car, police said.

Carr-Grillo was in the back seat and died at the scene. His death certificate states: "The driver of the vehicle was at fault."

The front-seat passenger, Chris Reynolds, 17, lay in a coma for an extended period of time, but has fully recovered, Ferronato said.

Reynolds filed a claim for damages against the city in June, saying he suffered a brain injury, short-term memory loss, emotional distress and fractures.

The City Council in August rejected the claim, which is a necessary prelude to filing a civil lawsuit.

Reynolds also was unavailable for comment.

Canales was treated for minor injuries and returned to school the next day, classmates said.

Post-mortem toxicology tests found THC, the active compound in marijuana, in Carr-Grillo's blood, but police have declined to comment on drug use by others in the car.

Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook said the District Attorney's Office is closely involved with police in the investigation and evaluation of the case.

Carr-Grillo's father, Rick Carr of Avila Beach, said he's had no contact from law enforcement since he received a preliminary report earlier this year.

Carr, who said he spent 15 years in state corrections and law enforcement, said someone needs to be held accountable for his son's death.

"Any time anyone is victimized, in my eyes, something needs to be done," he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249

or mary.callahan@

pressdemocrat.com.