Wrong-Way Driver Charged With Murder in Fatal U.S.-101 Crash Near Novato

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The Marin County District Attorney's Office has charged a Santa Rosa woman involved in a wrong-way driving fatality with murder.

Kristine Collier, 47, drove her 2006 Mercedes E350 south on northbound U.S. Highway 101 near Novato on Aug. 19, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Mercedes collided with a 2000 Honda Odyssey driven by 63-year-old Sachiko Umehara of Santa Rosa. A 2014 Dodge Ram delivery van then struck the Mercedes and Honda in the two northbound lanes, the CHP said.

Umehara died at Marin General Hospital.

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Collier suffered major injuries and was taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa.

Collier was charged in Marin County Superior Court Thursday with felony charges of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with a prior conviction, DUI causing injury, DUI with a blood-alcohol level of
0.08 percent or more and driving on the wrong side of a roadway causing injury or death, Assistant Marin County District Attorney Barry Borden said.

Collier also was charged with an infraction of having a blood-alcohol level of .01 percent or more while on probation, Borden said.

CHP Officer Andrew Barclay said the CHP recommended Collier be charged with felony murder and DUI. Collier's arraignment date has not been set.

— By Bay City News Service

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