Marin County sheriff’s captain ‘doing well’ after Highway 1 head-on crash

A Marin County sheriff’s captain was recovering Monday after he was injured by a suspected drunken driver from Santa Rosa, a sheriff’s official said.

Capt. Rick Navarro suffered moderate injures and had to undergo surgery “but is doing well,” Lt. Doug Pittman said.

“I have already received text messages from him this morning of what things I need to address on his behalf until he is able to return to work,” Pittman said.

Navarro’s vehicle was struck head-on by an oncoming van on Petaluma’s Valley Ford Road just west of Highway 1 at about 2:10 p.m. Sunday, the CHP said. The impact heavily damaged Navarro’s 2012 Chevrolet Impala, and he was pinned inside until firefighters extricated him from the car, fire officials said. He was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

The driver of the van was arrested after the crash on suspicion of drunken driving but remained hospitalized.

Juan Vanda, 21, of Santa Rosa was heading west in a 1997 Chevrolet Astro van when he drove off the right side of the highway, then overcorrected and collided with Navarro’s sedan in the eastbound lane, according to the CHP.

Vanda was able to quickly get out of the van, however he was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital because the extent of his injuries could not initially be established, fire officials said.

His condition wasn’t immediately available Monday.

Pittman complimented the skill of the first responders who freed Navarro from the car “and provided the highest level of care and concern that we all sometimes take for granted,” he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.