UPPER LAKE, Calif. – An early Monday morning crash that authorities said was the result of drunk driving left two drivers with injuries and resulted in the arrest of one of them.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the crash occurred at 12:40 a.m. Monday on Highway 20 near Upper Lake.
Gabriela Garcia, 28, of Ukiah was driving her black 2011 Nissan Altima westbound on Highway 20, east of Scotts Valley Road, as Pedro Mendoza, 30, of Lakeport was driving his white 2006 Dodge Dakota eastbound in the same area, the CHP said.
The CHP report said that due to Garcia’s level of intoxication, she allowed her Nissan to cross over the solid double yellow lines, directly into Mendoza’s path of travel, and the two vehicles collided head-on.
As a result of the collision, Garcia was rendered unresponsive, with major injuries. She was extricated by emergency personnel from her vehicle, while Mendoza exited his vehicle on his own and related his entire body was in pain, the CHP said.
The CHP said firefighters transported both Garcia and Mendoza by ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport. Mendoza was reported to have moderate injuries.
Garcia was transported from Sutter Lakeside to Kaiser Vacaville by air ambulance, according to the CHP.
At the hospital, Garcia was contacted by CHP from the Solano Area office at 4:45 a.m. and determined to be under the influence of alcohol. The CHP said she was then notified she was under arrest for felony DUI.
Both drivers were wearing their seat belts, the CHP said.
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DUI wreck injures two, leads to one arrest
- Elizabeth Larson
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