Coroner IDs Pedestrian Hit, Killed In Petaluma In Suspected DUI

PETALUMA, CA — One man died and another man was jailed Tuesday night in a traffic collision that Petaluma police suspect was caused by DUI.

The fatal crash involving a pedestrian and a Toyota Prius was reported at 7:07 p.m. at the roundabout at South McDowell Boulevard and Baywood Drive.

Some good Samaritans — two off-duty law enforcement officers and one off-duty nurse — were giving lifesaving medical care to the pedestrian when Petaluma police got to the scene.

The pedestrian was standing on a sidewalk at the roundabout when the driver of a 2011 white Toyota Prius drove onto the sidewalk and struck him, according to the Petaluma Police Department's preliminary investigation.

Petaluma Fire Department personnel rushed the victim to Petaluma Valley Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

The victim has since been identified by the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office as Mario Gongora Castaneda, 53, of Petaluma.

Police identified the Prius driver as James Watkins, 41, of Cotati.

"Suspect Watkins was contacted in his vehicle that had come to rest in the middle of the roundabout," police said.

Officers who spoke with Watkins suspected he was driving under the influence, so they placed him under arrest.

Watkins was not injured in the collision but he was taken to a hospital for DUI testing.

Meanwhile, the Petaluma Police Department’s Traffic Unit responded to the scene.

"Based upon initial witness statements, the location of the vehicle, and a preliminary investigation, it appears that Suspect Watkins, was driving a 2011 white Toyota Prius southbound on McDowell Blvd, just prior to Baywood Drive," Petaluma police said. "Watkin’s drove onto the sidewalk just prior to the roundabout and struck the pedestrian who was standing on the sidewalk."

According to police, Watkins has a pending court date from a prior suspected DUI crash arrest in 2018 in Sonoma County.

Tuesday night he was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter, police said.

According to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Watkins currently resides in Petaluma.

Watkins was booked into jail Tuesday on suspicion of three felonies related to the crash, sheriff's Spokeswoman Misti Wood told Patch.

Watkins posted $100,000 bail and was released Wednesday, Wood said.

Petaluma PD asked anyone who witnessed the collision to call Traffic Officer Mike Pierre at 707-781-1208.