Suspected drunken driver crashes during police pursuit in Rohnert Park

A Florida man led law enforcement officers on a chase Sunday through parts of northwestern Rohnert Park before he crashed into another vehicle on Stony Point Road, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office reported.

The man, who ran from his car but was caught, is suspected of three felonies involving driving drunk, Sheriff's Lt. Al Vernon said in a press release.

Due to injuries from the crash, driver Gary Michael Madeux, 50, of Jacksonville was released to a hospital and will be arrested after his treatment, Vernon said.

He remained hospitalized Tuesday at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in fair condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The incident started Sunday at about 8:40 p.m. when a deputy spotted a Chrysler PT Cruiser swerving, tailgating and speeding along southbound Highway 101 in southern Santa Rosa.

The deputy pulled over the driver, who got off of the highway and stopped at a gas station on Redwood Drive in Rohnert Park. Madeux appeared to be drunk, and a CHP officer was called to evaluate the man's sobriety.

When the arriving CHP officer stopped to speak to the deputy, the suspect drove off, nearly hitting a parked patrol car, Vernon said.

The two law enforcement officers pursued the suspect through a nearby motel parking lot and onto Redwood Drive, where the suspect drove southbound in the northbound lanes, Vernon said.

A second CHP officer joined the pursuit as it headed west on Golf Course Drive with the PT Cruiser moving at about 75 mph, according to the deputy.

At Stony Point Road, the driver ran a red light and hit a black Jetta station wagon in the intersection. The PT Cruiser ran off the road, went through a fence and into a field. The driver took off on foot and was caught by the deputy and CHP officers.

The Jetta driver, traveling alone, complained of pain and was treated before being driven home by deputies.

Madeux was taken to a hospital for medical treatment and was kept overnight for observation, Vernon said. His condition wasn't available Monday.

Deputies intend to arrest him on suspicion of reckless driving with bodily injury, felony evading causing injury, felony drunken driving with injury, resisting arrest and being an unlicensed driver, according to the Vernon.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.