CHP Names Suspect Involved in Last Week's Wrong-Way Hit-and-Run

The California Highway Patrol today identified 32-year-old Melinda Hildebrand as the woman suspected of sideswiping two vehicles while driving the wrong way on U.S. Highway 101 near Windsor last week.

CHP Officer Jon Sloat said the report on the Feb. 2 incident will be sent this week to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office for possible filing of DUI and misdemeanor hit-and-run charges.

[Previous: Did You Witness The Wrong-Way Grand Cherokee Driver On Hwy 101? Call Police.]

Hildebrand, a Santa Rosa resident, was not cited or arrested, Sloat said.

The CHP learned her identity last week but her name was not released until today.

Hildebrand told the CHP she had been drinking heavily that night but did not remember anything about it, Sloat said.

The CHP said Hildebrand was driving a white Jeep Cherokee recklessly on northbound Highway 101 in Windsor around 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 2.

She was allegedly driving about 80 mph when she lost control of the Jeep near Arata Lane and crashed into the center guardrail, Sloat said.

Hildebrand then turned the car around and drove south in a northbound lane, sideswiping a Chevrolet Malibu and BMW sedan, Sloat said.

The drivers of those vehicles were not injured. Hildebrand allegedly fled on Los Amigos Road after the Jeep crashed into a fence. CHP and Windsor police officers searched the area but did not immediately find her.

--BAy City News

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