Teen Pleads Guilty To Charges In Fatal Novato Crash That Killed Student: DA

NOVATO, CA — A Rohnert Park teenager pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges stemming from a crash in Novato that killed one teen and injured three others, according to the Marin County District Attorney's Office.

The 17-year-old appeared by teleconference in Marin County Superior Court and admitted to two counts related to the April 11 crash. Because he is a minor, his name has not been publicly released.

The Marin County District Attorney's Office dismissed some charges as part of the plea agreement.

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Police said the teen was driving at a high rate of speed around 1 a.m. on April 11 when he crashed into a utility pole at San Marin Drive and Simmons Lane.

Officers found five teens between the ages of 16 and 18 suffering from major injuries. All were taken to a hospital, where Rancho Cotate High School student Niko Vargas Ortiz was pronounced dead. The other occupants survived.

The crash happened hours after Rancho Cotate students participated in the "Every 15 Minutes" program, a two-day educational initiative designed to show students the real-world impact of impaired driving.