Car Crashes Into 7-Eleven In Suspected DUI: Rohnert Park Police

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A 19-year-old Sonoma State University student is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol when he crashed his car into a Rohnert Park convenience store, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.

The incident was reported at 7 a.m. Saturday at 7-Eleven, 1704 E. Cotati Ave. just across the street from Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park DPS Lt. Jeff Nicks said in a news release.

Rohnert Park police and fire personnel arrived on scene within three minutes and found a 2012 black Nissan Altima had crashed inside the business.

"The driver of the vehicle, 19-year-old SSU student, Alex Poltoratskiy, had self-extricated himself from the vehicle and was standing outside the business when emergency personnel arrived on scene," Nicks said.

"Poltoratskiy did not appear to be injured, but was assessed by police and fire personnel," Nicks said. "During their assessment, Rohnert Park police officers noticed that Poltoratskiy displayed objective symptoms of alcohol intoxication. Field sobriety tests and the officers observations determined that Poltoratskiy was under the influence of alcohol."

Poltoratskiy was arrested and booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, the lieutenant said.

"Fortunately nobody was injured as a result of the crash," Nicks said. "Surveillance footage from inside the business revealed that there were customers inside the store within a minute prior to the crash."

The business was closed Saturday after a city of Rohnert Park building inspector red-tagged the 7-Eleven building as "sub-standard."

"The building will remain closed to the public until the glass storefront is secured or replaced and the merchandise is cleared from the aisles," Nicks said. "The gas pumps will remain open at that location."

Local photographer Al Francis went by the business Sunday and took photos.

"Customers were surprised throughout the day to find yellow tape wrapped around the front of the busy store and a locked front door however, the 7-Eleven gas pumps were still operating nearby with the use of credit or debit cards," Francis reported from the scene.