Driver who crashed off Sonoma bridge suspected of DUI

Officers arrested a Texas man Sunday afternoon following his crash off of a west Sonoma road.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

After crashing his car Sunday afternoon off a bridge west of Sonoma, a driver was flown for medical treatment and arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, according to the CHP.

Richard Stoffel, 53, of Sache, Texas was released for medical treatment but was arrested following the 4:50 p.m. crash on Leveroni Road.

Stoffel had been driving east, headed toward Sonoma, when his Kia Rio drove off bridge over Sonoma Creek, according to a crash report.

The sedan stopped about 20 feet down. Stoffel was able to get out on his own and was treated at the scene by Sonoma Valley firefighters and paramedics. He’d reportedly suffered a head injury and the Sonoma County sheriff’s helicopter was called to transport him to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Stoffel was treated and released Sunday evening, according to hospital records. He then was booked into the Sonoma County Jail and remained in custody Monday in lieu of $10,000 bail, according to jail records.

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