Woman killed by suspected drunken driver in Lower Lake

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office released the name of the woman who was killed Wednesday when a suspected drunken driver veered into her just as she was getting into her parked car on Main Street in Lower Lake.

The victim was identified as Nichole Marie Welborn, 40, of Clearlake. Official said she was trying to get into her car, which was parked in front of Barreda’s Lower Lake Feed Store, when she was struck by a Ford F-150 truck.

The suspect, Robert Wade Hitchcock, was arrested and jailed on suspicion of driving under the influence following the 4:40 p.m.

Hitchcock, 47, also of Clearlake, was driving west on Main Street when he apparently allowed his truck to veer across the west lane, where it struck the woman, pinning her between the two vehicles and killing her.

Hitchcock, who was wearing a seat belt, was uninjured.