Suspected Drunk Driver Arrested After Crash Kills Passenger In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY - A suspected drunk driver was arrested after a passenger in the truck he was driving died, following a crash in unincorporated Sonoma County early Sunday morning.

Around 2:30 a.m., a 2008 GMC Sierra was traveling at a high rate of speed south on Llano Road, north of Doyle Road, in unincorporated Sonoma County, CHP officials said.

The driver, later identified as 29-year-old Chanowk Pendergrass of Sebastopol, failed to negotiate a curve in the road and crashed into a concrete culvert, according to the CHP. The impact caused the vehicle to overturn.

Once fire personnel arrived on scene, they extricated Pendergrass from the truck, CHP officials said.

A female passenger inside the truck was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity has not been released.

CHP officers were able to speak with Pendergrass, who showed signs of intoxication.

Officers then conducted a DUI evaluation. Pendergrass was arrested on suspicion of driving while under influence of alcohol and vehicular manslaughter, according to CHP Officer John Sloat.

Pendergrass was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries not considered life-threatening.

Following the crash, CHP officers closed Llano Road for about three hours.

The road has since reopened.

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock