Horse owner calls fatal accident 'horrific'

<p>The owner of four of the five horses killed on Highway 121 Wednesday expressed deep sorrow and condolences for the family of the Santa Rosa man who died after smashing his car into the animals in the pre-dawn darkness.</p><p>“It was a horrific accident,” said Joe Miller, his voice breaking repeatedly. “And with heavy hearts, myself and my family’s thoughts and prayers are for the Trupiano family and their loss of Mark Trupiano."</p><p>Miller looked weary Thursday as he tended to the fencing on the now-empty horse enclosure atop a grassy slope off McKinnon Road. The horses had left their enclosure and gone less than a mile to the highway just east of Old Sonoma Road when Trupiano, 46, came upon them in his Mitsubishi Gallant about 5:15 a.m.</p><p>He was on his was to his job as a trucker for Biagi Bros. in Napa, where friends and co-workers Thursday were organizing help for his wife and two children in Santa Rosa.</p><p>Biagi Bros. employees were collecting donations for the family and the owners said they would match the total.</p><p>Fred Biagi, founder of the hauling and storage company, said Trupiano had been employed only since August. “It was amazing how well liked he was with his fellow drivers for only being with us a short time,” Biagi said. “He was a very good driver. We’re certainly going to miss him.”</p><p>Trupiano, a former UPS driver, hauled bulk wine and water for wineries in and around the Napa area and was said to love his job.</p><p>“The guy was always smiling, laughing, dancing around. It almost seemed like he didn’t have a care in the world,” said Paul Alcocer, operations manager for the company’s wine and tanker division, which had 32 drivers including Trupiano. “He never complained about anything.”</p><p>Bill Roberts-Ross, a spokesman for the family, said Thursday that Trupiano not only enjoyed his job, but “was one of the safest drivers out there.”</p><p>“I’ve ridden with him,” he said. “He was a professional driver.”</p><p>Trupiano, who grew up in San Francisco and San Bruno, had lived in Sonoma County about 20 years. He was described as a devoted father who coached his daughter in soccer and his son in T-ball and baseball.</p><p>His daughter, Nicole, 19, is a freshman at Sonoma State University. Mark Trupiano Jr., 17, is a junior at Santa Rosa High School. He also is survived by his wife, Carole.</p><p>“He was a man loved by all. He would help anyone if they needed it,” said Roberts-Ross, who is Nicole’s boyfriend.</p><p>He said the family is still grieving and has not delved into the details of the accident. But Roberts-Ross noted that it was dark when Trupiano collided with the horses.</p><p>“It was black and brown horses in a dark situation,” he said.</p><p><NO1><NO>Miller declined to discuss the loss of the horses or the events that led to the crash. The rural lane on which he lives is lined with vineyards and modest homes, most with horses within fenced pastures outside.</p><p>Paw prints found inside the Napa-area enclosure lend support to suggestions the animals were spooked by a large dog.</p><p>“There is a possibility that a dog did get into their enclosure and spooked them,” Napa County Sheriff’s Capt. Jean Donaldson said Thursday. “We have no eyewitnesses that saw that, or anything like that, but that is a possibility.”</p><p><NO1><NO>Plaster casts of the impressions were made by animal control officers to advance their understanding of events. But without anyone having seen a dog, it may never be clear what happened, he said.</p><p>Five horses ran to the roadway. Two died on impact, while CHP officers shot three others badly injured after the crash. One of the horses apparently was being boarded on the Mil-ler property, but the name of the owner was not available.</p><p>Donaldson said it does not appear that the horse owners will be subject to criminal charges or violation of county ordinances.</p><p>A memorial service for Mark Trupiano is scheduled for noon Saturday at Daniel’s Chapel of the Roses, 1225 Sonoma Ave. in Santa Rosa.</p><p>A trust fund in the family name has been established through Exchange Bank.</p><p>“We appreciate all everyone has done for us so far. And we thank everybody for their support in this time of need,” Roberts-Ross said.</p><p>[END_CREDIT_0]You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.<QA0></p><p>com. Staff Writer Clark Mason can be reached at 521-5214 or clark.mason@<QA0></p><p>pressdemocrat.com.</p>