Sonoma Valley Woman, 20, Charged In Napa Crash Death Of 21-Year-Old

NAPA COUNTY, CA — A 20-year-old Sonoma Valley woman is facing several charges in connection with a fatal wrong-way crash July 23 in Napa County.

It is alleged that shortly before 10:15 p.m. July 23, Susan Burnham Jevarian was driving the wrong way on state Highway 29 north of state Highway 121 when she collided with two other cars.

"A blood sample was taken from Jevarian at Kaiser Vacaville Hospital and showed a .22 percent blood-alcohol content," the Napa County District Attorney's Office said Friday in a news release.

Amanda Peters, 21 years old, of Boyes Hot Springs, was riding in the front seat of Jevarian's car that night and was rushed to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Peters died July 27 at the hospital, the Napa County Sheriff-Coroner's Office said.

It is alleged that Jevarian caused the death of her passenger and injuries to four others.

The Napa County District Attorney's Office has filed charges against Jevarian, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, felony driving with .08 percent blood alcohol level or higher causing injury, and battery upon a doctor or nurse. Special allegations were filed for excessive blood alcohol level, great bodily injury and bodily injury to more than one victim.

The Crash

According to the California Highway Patrol, at approximately 10:10 p.m. July 23, Jevarian was driving a 1988 Cadillac southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 29, south of Imola Avenue; a 56-year-old Napa man was driving a 2003 Toyota in the No. 1 northbound lane, and a 37-year-old Los Altos man was driving a 2021 Tesla in the No. 2 northbound lane, just to the right rear of the Toyota.

As the Toyota and Tesla traveled north, Jevarian continued southbound in the northbound lanes and the Toyota driver was not able to avoid a head-on crash. The front right of the Cadillac struck the front right of the Toyota, CHP Officer Jaret Paulson said.

The force of the initial impact caused the back of the Cadillac to rotate in a clockwise direction and travel into the No. 2 lane, into the path of the Tesla, Paulson said. The Tesla driver was not able to avoid a crash with the Cadillac and the front of the Tesla struck the left rear of the Cadillac.

Jevarian was wearing her seatbelt but was thrown from the car during the crash. She was airlifted by a CHP helicopter crew to Kaiser Vacaville with moderate injuries, and was arrested that night by CHP officers.

Peters was rushed by AMR ambulance to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center.

The Toyota driver suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center.

The Tesla driver and two passengers in the Tesla all suffered minor injuries, according to the CHP.

Following Jevarian's initial arrest she was bailed out immediately on $100,000 bail bond, according to the DA's Office.

When Peters succumbed to her injuries, the DA's Office reviewed the case, filed charges and requested an arrest warrant for $1 million.

"Napa County Superior Court Judge Francisca Tisher signed the Arrest Warrant but reduced the amount to $500,000," the DA's Office said.

The CHP re-arrested Jevarian Wednesday in Sonoma Valley and she was rebooked into the Napa County Department of Corrections.

On Thursday, Jevarian was arraigned in Napa County Superior Court.

"Over vehement objections from the Deputy District Attorney, bail was further reduced by Judge Diane Price to $100K and Ms. Jevarian was released with supervisory conditions," the DA's Office said.

Jevarian is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 20 to enter a plea.

'Shining Light'

The memorial service for Peters is planned for 11 a.m. Aug. 13 at Duggan's Mission Chapel in Sonoma, followed by a reception at the Sonoma Moose Lodge.

Peters graduated from Creekside High School, then began working at the Republic of Thrift.

"She loved her Republic of Thrift Family and her favorite customers," according to her obituary. "A shining light in all the lives she touched. Amanda loved her family and friends fiercely, she always made sure that the people she loved knew it, always ready with a smile and one of her big bear hugs that we will all deeply miss."