37° DNS FOG, Teen passenger cited for allegedly drunken driving
Last Modified: Monday, July 13, 2009 at 3:19 p.m.
Two Santa Rosa teenagers who crashed just before dawn Sunday while speeding on Hall Road had both been drinking, the CHP reported Monday.
The 17-year-old male driver may face arrest on a suspected drunken driver charge. But the 17-year-old female passenger was arrested on suspicion of felony drunken driving causing injury.
Her arrest came because she allegedly grabbed the wheel and pulled it as the car travelled 70-80 mph on the west Santa Rosa road, Officer Jon Sloat reported, making her the “driver” at the time of the collision.
The car skidded off of the road, hit an oak tree and overturned. The two, who apparently were arguing before the crash, suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Sloat said.
A blood test indicated the girl, who is too young to legally drink, was over the .08 percent alcohol limit for a driver.
The status of the male driver remained under investigation Monday. If tests determine he had a blood alcohol level over .08 percent, he was expected to be arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. If tests show his limit was less than that, he could face a lesser charge of being a minor with alcohol, Sloat said.
The crash occurred just before 5 a.m. on Hall Road near Park Royal Avenue as the car headed toward Santa Rosa.
After the crash, the driver was able to get out of the crumpled 1999 Chevy Malibu. He ran down Hall Road to Fulton Road, where he flagged down a passing Santa Rosa police officer.
The officer drove him back to the crash. Arriving Santa Rosa firefighters found the injured girl had gotten out of the car but was lying on the ground.
The driver’s name wasn’t released because he may be arrested, Sloat said. The girl’s name wasn’t released because she is a juvenile facing a criminal charge.
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