Willits man dead, another injured in Ukiah crash

One man is dead and another was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash late Sunday night in Ukiah that was only reported to authorities nine hours after it happened.

Juan Rodriguez Silva, 18, of Willits, was driving a 2006 Ford SUV north on Uva Drive near its intersection with Highway 101 when he veered off the road and struck a tree, the CHP said in a news release.

Silva, who suffered major injuries, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Of his two male passengers, both of Willits, the left rear passenger, a 19-year-old whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the crash scene. A 20-year-old in the right rear seat declined medical treatment, the news release said.

None of the men was wearing seatbelts.

When reached for comment, the CHP could not elaborate the model of vehicle, why it took nine hours before the crash was reported, whether the surviving victims had been in the car all that time or whether the deceased male was left behind. It was also unclear who reported the crash.

You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 707-521-5205 or christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @SeaWarren.