Photo: the victim’s wrecked car
Santa Rosa PD released a press release about An innocent driver that was the victim of a DUI driver’s inability to stay on his side of the road –
“On Sunday, February 2, 2020 at 8:44 p.m., Officers from the Santa Rosa Police Department responded to a report of a traffic collision with injuries in the 5100 block of Montgomery Drive. A reporting party stated two vehicles collided on Montgomery Drive and one vehicle had left the roadway into a ravine.
Officers arrived on-scene with Santa Rosa Fire and Sonoma Life Support. They located a black Honda sedan with major damage which left the roadway down an adjacent creek embankment. The other vehicle involved, a silver Nissan sedan had also sustained major damage and was blocking the eastbound lane of Montgomery Drive.
Santa Rosa Fire Department personnel utilized hydraulic equipment to extricate the driver of the black Honda sedan. The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
The driver of the Nissan sedan was uninjured and displayed signs of alcohol intoxication. He was identified as Jesse Esparaza, a 69-year-old resident of Sonoma.
The investigation showed that Esparza was driving eastbound on Montgomery Drive when he collided head-on with the black Honda sedan which had been traveling westbound in the opposite direction. It was believed that the collision occurred as Esparza drifted over the double yellow line into oncoming traffic.
Esparaza was determined to be under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail for violation of 23153(a) CVC – DUI causing injury, and 23153(b) CVC – DUI causing injury with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or greater.
Montgomery Drive was closed for approximately 2 hours while emergency personnel and tow companies cleared the roadway.”
