Santa Rosa man guilty in Healdsburg DUI death

A twice-convicted drunken driver from Santa Rosa has been found guilty of killing an Arizona tourist in an alcohol-fueled crash in 2015.

Pablo Salinas-Jacobo, 45, was convicted Wednesday of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the death of Lori Lynne Ryan, a 53-year-old satellite engineer who was wine tasting with her boyfriend in Healdsburg.

Salinas-Jacobo was charged with murder under a premise that previous drunken-driving convictions in 2007 and 2013 made him aware of the inherent risk of drinking and driving. However, jurors could not reach unanimous agreement and returned a conviction on the lesser charge.

He faces a maximum of 15 years to life in prison for killing the Anthem, Arizona, woman and up to eight more years for drunken driving that led to her death, prosecutors said.

Ryan and David Kraft of Chandler, Arizona, were driving their Dodge Charger in front of Merriam Vineyards on Los Amigos Road when they were hit by Salinas-Jacobo, who crossed the double-yellow lines in his Ford Mustang to pass another car.

Evidence showed his blood alcohol level was more than two times the legal limit. He told officers he drank a glass of bourbon after playing soccer at a Healdsburg park.

The collision happened about four months after Salinas-Jacobo had an ignition interlock device removed from his car.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.