PRESS RELEASEFor Immediate Release Wednesday, September 14th, 2022Issued By:Sergeant Nicholas Raccanello, Petaluma PD, (707) 778-4372, nraccanello@cityofpetaluma.org
Incident:
DUI Collision with Injury
Additional:
23153(a) CVC, 20002(a) CVC, and 12500(a) CVC
Report Number:
22-3934
Occurred Date :
September 13th, 2022
Occurred Time:
8:55 PM
Location:
East Washington Street and Kenilworth Drive
Suspect(s):
Antonio Mendoza Salinas, 48-year-old Petaluma resident
Incident Summary:
On 09/13/2022 at approximately 8:55 PM, Petaluma officers responded to the area of East Washington Street and Kenilworth Drive to a report of an erratic driver who had collided into multiple fixed objects. The driver, later identified as Antonio Mendoza Salinas, was observed attempting to make a right turn from Johnson Street onto East Washington Street. He failed to make the turn and drove onto the southern sidewalk of East Washington Street where he collided with a posted, ‘Bike Route’ sign. The collision popped his tires and caused his airbags to deploy. He continued driving approximately 40-45 MPH eastbound on East Washington Street. At the US 101 S/B on ramp, Salinas veered from East Washington Street and collided with a raised concrete barrier and the pedestrian safety railings on the East Washington overpass. This caused his Acura sedan to momentarily go airborne prior to it coming to a stop on the overpass.
Witnesses contacted Salinas in the driver’s seat to check his welfare. During this time, it was learned there was a male adult passenger inside the vehicle. Witnesses remained with Salinas until officers arrived. Prior to officers’ arrival Salinas was observed attempting to restart the vehicle believing he was trying to flee the scene of the collisions. The passenger ultimately walked away from the scene and was never contacted. Witnesses advised the passenger was clearly in pain as he stumbled away eastbound on East Washington Street. Several officers searched the area for the injured passenger and were unable to located him.
Upon contacted Salinas displayed objective signs of intoxication and admitted to drinking and driving. As a result of the investigation, Salinas was believed to be under the influence of alcohol. Due to the collision, Salinas was transported to the hospital. After being medically cleared at the hospital, Salinas was booked at the Sonoma County Jail on the following charges: 23153(a)- DUI Causing an Injury, 20002(a) CVC-Hit and Run Property Damage, and 12500(a)-Unlicensed Driver. The involved passenger was not located.
If anyone has any information regarding the involved passenger, please contacted DUI Enforcement Officer B. Schott at (707) 781-1207 or at
[email protected].
