DUI Driver Crashes Car, Passes Out Behind Petaluma Business: PD

PETALUMA, CA — A suspected DUI driver was taken into custody Monday night in Petaluma after allegedly crashing his pickup truck, then passing out behind a local business. Officers were dispatched at 9:19 p.m. Monday to a report of a solo-vehicle collision in the area of N. McDowell Boulevard and Redwood Way, Petaluma police said in a news release. When officers arrived they were told by a witness that the driver had walked off after crashing into the center median — leaving the pickup truck disabled in the middle of the roadway.

Officers checked the area but did not immediately find the driver, police said. However, about 90 minutes later the Petaluma Police Department received a report about a person "passed out behind a business in the 1300 block of N. McDowell," police said.

The caller's description of the person matched that of the missing driver, police said.

Officers went to the business and found the man and identified him as Carlos Ballejos Silva, 31, of Santa Rosa.

Silva was determined to be the driver and registered owner of the vehicle involved in the crash, police said.

Silva appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, police said, and he allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol and driving the vehicle.

"... He stated he believed his vehicle had stalled in the roadway but that he was otherwise unaware that he had been involved in a collision," police said.

According to police, Ballejos Silva was "unable to perform field sobriety tests due to his level of intoxication."

Officers placed Ballejos Silva under arrest and took him to Sonoma County jail where he was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and hit-and-run, police said.

Photo courtesy Petaluma Police Department