Woman suspected of being on drugs runs over man on dark Ukiah road

A Laytonville woman driving near Ukiah on Wednesday night was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs after authorities said she struck and killed a man who was walking in the road.

Catherine Higgs, 48, was driving her 2004 Infiniti west along Talmage Road shortly after 9 p.m. when she came upon a man whom previous callers had reported walking in the lanes and not moving for traffic, according to the CHP.

Higgs’ car reportedly hit the man, and he died at the scene. His name was not released pending notification of next of kin by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. His residence was listed as Los Angeles.

Higgs was determined to be under the influence of drugs and was booked into Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI and driving on suspended or revoked license, according to the CHP.

Officers determined that, despite her impairment, she was not responsible for the man’s death, Officer Kylar Adams said.

“The cause of the collision was deemed to be the pedestrian’s fault,” Adams said. “It’s a dark stretch of road and it would be difficult to see somebody and you wouldn’t expect them out there.”

It wasn’t immediately clear why Higgs’ license had been suspended, but media reports show her being booked into jail on DUI charges two other times in the past two years.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.