Photo: memorial for 16-year-old Luis Esparza
KNIGHTSEN — A teenage driver is in custody following a drunk driving tragedy resulting in the deaths of two pedestrians. The suspect was arrested by California Highway Patrol officers investigating a nighttime accident.
This accident occurred along a straightaway of a dark rural highway in the unincorporated community of Knightsen. An 18-year-old woman from Pittsburg and a 16-year-old boy from Oakley were both killed on September 4.
The victims were walking near a large gathering of persons. They were fatally struck close to a driveway at 8321 Byron Highway at approximately 11:14 p.m. The vehicle that hit them is a 2002 Subaru Impreza.
CHP officers and emergency medical personnel rushed to the scene of the accident. Bystanders reported what happened to the responding CHP officers.
The vehicle and driver suspected of being responsible were located nearby. The driver was later identified as Colby L. Sharver, an 18-year-old resident of Brentwood.
Sharver was arrested about 45 minutes later and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. He was booked on three separate charges.
His most serious charge is gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated PC 191.5 (A). He also faces a charge for DUI alcohol/drugs with bodily injury 23153(A). His third charge is DUI alcohol with bodily injury 23153(B).
Sharver remains behind bars at the county jail in lieu of $300,000 bond, pending further review of his charges.
