Sonoma Co. Woman Arrested For Suspected DUI, Child Endangerment

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – Petaluma police arrested a driver Tuesday for DUI and child endangerment after allegedly she drove onto a curb in front of a school with her young nephew in her vehicle, a police sergeant said.

Staff at La Tercera Elementary School in the 1600 block of Albin Way called police after a blue Honda drove up a curb in front of the school then backed up and stopped in the middle of the road around 3:30 p.m., Sgt.
Ron Klein said.

When school employees spoke to the driver, identified as 58-year-old Lee Matthias of Petaluma, she appeared intoxicated, had slurred speech, and her 3-year-old nephew was in the back seat, Klein said.

Police believe Matthias was at the school to pick up another family member.

Within, minutes, officers contacted her at her eastside Petaluma home, and Matthias admitted she was "probably" intoxicated when she went to the school, Klein said.

Matthias was not able to perform field sobriety tests and a breath test determined her blood-alcohol level was 0.293 percent, nearly four times the legal limit, Klein said.

Matthias was booked under $30,000 bail in the Sonoma County Jail for DUI and child endangerment.

• Also see: Man Caught Driving Drunk on Highway 101 With Toddler In Backseat Headed to Prison

--Bay City News/File photo