Police seek witnesses in fatal Petaluma crash

Petaluma police Wednesday continued to investigate the death of a pedestrian hit by a suspected drunken driver and are looking for witnesses.

The late-night collision Saturday killed Luis Alberto Picon-Estrada, 42, of Petaluma.

Driver Scott Compton, 44, of Sebastopol was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor manslaughter.

The crash occurred just before 11 p.m. on East Washington Street near the city library as Picon-Estrada was crossing the four-lane thoroughfare toward home and Compton was headed into downtown to meet friends.

The pedestrian, who wasn’t in a crosswalk, apparently stepped off the sidewalk in front of the library and began walking briskly, or running as he headed north, Petaluma traffic Sgt. Ron Klein said.

He had made it across the eastbound lanes but as he crossed the first westbound lane he was hit by an approaching Mercedes SUV.

Compton told officers he didn’t see the man until he was in front of his vehicle and couldn’t stop in time.

The impact knocked Picon-Estrada onto the hood and then to the ground as the driver braked hard.

The pedestrian suffered a head injury and trauma to the right side of his body.

He was taken to nearby Petaluma Valley Hospital and pronounced dead.

Officers believed Compton showed signs of intoxication and arrested him.

He currently is facing a misdemeanor manslaughter charge because of the lack of negligence found in the investigation so far.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Matt Frick at 707-776-3720.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.