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Tag: DUI

  • Suspected DUI driver arrested after high-speed chase in Oceanside

    An Oceanside Police Department cruiser. (File photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)

    A driver who led police on a high-speed chase exceeding 100 mph was arrested and charged with suspicion of DUI in Oceanside Friday.

    Oceanside Police Lt. Jon Dominique said a call came in about 4:30 a.m. Friday from a witness reporting erratic behavior from a vehicle driver near College Boulevard and state Route 76.

    “The witness reported a suspect throwing beer out of a vehicle and driving around at a very high rate of speed nearly striking a few pedestrians,” Dominique said. “Oceanside Police Officers later caught up with the vehicle on SR-76 and Airport Road. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, which led to a high-speed chase at speeds exceeding 100 mph.”

    Dominique said the chase by Oceanside police across multiple North County freeways proceeded westbound on SR-76, southbound on Interstate 5, then eastbound on State Route 78, before exiting the freeway at Emerald Drive in Vista.

    “The suspect pulled into a Vista apartment complex and was taken into custody with the assistance of sheriff’s deputies,” said Dominique, who added that the unidentified suspect was charged with felony evading and two counts of suspicion of driving under the influence.

    There were no injuries reported.

    –City News Service


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  • CHP warns drivers Christmas DUI enforcement begins Wednesday evening

    California Highway Patrol officers on motorcycles. (File photo courtesy of the CHP)

    The California Highway Patrol warned drivers to avoid alcohol and marijuana and respect the speed limit while celebrating Christmas.

    The agency is prepared for its annual Holiday Enforcement Period that begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.

    “Every instance of speeding or reckless driving carries the potential for life-changing consequences,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “Our officers see the destruction these choices can cause, and we urge every driver to slow down, stay alert and make decisions that protect themselves and others. No destination is worth risking a life.”

    Last year on Christmas, CHP officers arrested just over 300 motorists statewide on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana, compared to about 900 the year before.

    A total of 17 people died in crashes on highways patrolled by the CHP during Christmas 2024, compared to 20 the year before

    Local police and sheriff’s personnel are also prepared for the Holiday Enforcement Period, deploying all available officers for high-visibility patrols, running a public awareness campaign and operating DUI checkpoints.

    The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office announced it will conduct DUI checkpoints Friday and Saturday nights during the holidays, as drunk driving enforcement ramps up region-wide.

    “Impaired drivers put other on the road at significant risk,” La Mesa Police  Chief Ray Sweeney said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety.”

    Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. They are often announced in advance to deter people who might drink or smoke to excess, then get behind the wheel.


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  • Report: Alcohol and drug-impaired traffic deaths are down in DC region, but crashes and injuries are up – WTOP News

    While police enforcement increases during the holidays, a new report shows where the D.C. region stands on drunk and drug-related driving deaths and crashes.

    It’s the holiday season, which usually means an uptick in drunk drivers on the roads. While police enforcement increases during the holidays, a new report shows where the D.C. region stands on drunk and drug-related driving deaths and crashes.

    The good news?

    “Drug and drunk driving fatalities on D.C. area roadways have gone down, not just a little bit, they’ve gone down by a double-digit percentage, 26% between 2023 and 2024,” said Kurt Erickson, president of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program.

    Erickson said the new report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments showed deaths fell from 100 to 74.

    He said he thinks that D.C. police are increasing enforcement has helped.

    “They’ve stepped up their efforts to identify and apprehend drunk drivers. They’ve done this through weekly traffic checkpoints. They’re not necessarily sobriety checkpoints, but they will catch drunk drivers, and also that they’ve stepped up their game in terms of training of officers to identify and apprehend drunk drivers,” Erickson said.

    But while deaths were down, he said there’s still some work to be done.

    “Drunk driving injuries are up, and drunk driving crashes are up, and that we’re still a region where, while DUI arrests are down, we’re still arresting somebody for drunk driving every 60 minutes … in the greater Washington area every single year,” Erickson said.

    Impaired driving-related injuries rose by nearly 4% while crashes increased by 2%, according to the report.

    “Each one of these fatalities, injuries, crashes, arrests, they’re all 100% preventable,” he said. “There’s an alternative to drunk driving between now and New Year’s, which is a free, safe ride — Sober RIDE program — a service that the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program has done since 1991, of which almost 100,000 people have taken advantage of.”

    Find more information on the Sober Ride program here.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Valerie Bonk

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  • Person riding e-bike seriously injured by drunk driver in Imperial Beach

    A San Diego Sheriff’s cruiser. (File photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)

    A person riding an electric bicycle was critically injured in a collision with a vehicle driven by a suspected drunk driver in Imperial Beach, authorities said Sunday.

    Deputies were dispatched at 2:40 a.m. Saturday to the intersection of Imperial Beach Boulevard and California Street, where a silver Chevrolet Malibu had struck the bicyclist, said Sgt. Luis Carrillo of the San Diego Sheriff’s Office.

    Paramedics provided medical aid at the scene, then rushed the critically injured victim, described only as a minor, to a hospital, Carrillo said.

    He said the driver of the Malibu remained at the scene, cooperated with investigators, and was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

    Anyone with any information regarding the crash was urged to call the sheriff’s Imperial Beach station at 619-498-2400.


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  • Driver arrested for alleged DUI at Escondido checkpoint

    A DUI checkpoint sign. (File photo)

    One motorist was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving at an Escondido DUI checkpoint, authorities reported Saturday.

    The checkpoint was held in the 3300 block of Bear Valley Parkway from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Escondido Police Department. Seven motorists were cited for driving without a license.

    Of the 2,544 vehicles that passed through the checkpoint, 538 drivers were contacted and provided with literature on the dangers and consequences of driving while intoxicated, police said.

    DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on reported incidents of impaired driving-related crashes, according to police.

    The next DUI checkpoint in Escondido is scheduled for March 27, 2026.

    Funding for the checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    Copyright 2025, City News Service, Inc.


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  • Driver with prior DUI convictions fatally strikes teen walking to school

    A California man with two DUI convictions has been charged with murder in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 13-year-old boy as he walked to school, authorities said.

    Bradley Gene Funk, 59, who was on probation for a 2021 DUI conviction, allegedly struck a curb early Tuesday in Dana Point and plowed into Luis Adrian Morales-Pacheco as the boy headed to Niguel Hills Middle School with his older brother, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

    Funk, of Dana Point, allegedly fled the scene after striking the teen, whose brother was not injured. He was arrested a few miles away after his white GMC pickup lost a tire and witnesses helped deputies track him down, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said.

    Luis, of San Juan Capistrano, suffered serious injuries in the collision and died at a hospital.

    “The death of a child leaves a hole in the heart of our entire community,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement Thursday. “Luis did not have to die and the driver who killed him was told over and over again of the lives he would be risking if he got behind the wheel intoxicated, and he did it anyway. And now Luis’ family is forced to live without their little boy whose smile could light up a room—all because a stranger made a selfish decision and Luis and his entire family paid the ultimate price.”

    Funk, who pleaded guilty to DUI in two separate cases, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury. He remains in custody as of early Friday, jail records show.

    In California, motorists convicted of DUI are required to receive a Watson advisement—informing them they could face a murder charge if they kill someone while driving under the influence. Funk received that instruction in both of his cases, Spitzer said.

    Funk, who was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI, murder and hit-and-run, was on probation in connection with his prior convictions, sheriff officials said. Funk had been convicted in DUI cases in November 2020 and January 2021, according to court records cited by the Los Angeles Times.

    In July 2020, Funk was booked on suspicion of DUI in two separate incidents within three days after hitting two cars near Capistrano Union High School before fleeing. He later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor hit-and-run with property damage and DUI in one incident and DUI in the second, the Times reported.

    Funk was sentenced to five years’ probation, including a stipulation that he couldn’t drive a vehicle with alcohol in his system. His license was suspended in July 2021 and reinstated in February 2023, DMV records cited by the newspaper show.

    Funk remains held without bail ahead of his arraignment scheduled for December 10. His court-appointed attorney, Joel Garson, said he didn’t have enough evidence Thursday to seek bail in the case, KTTV reported.

    An online fundraiser for Luis’ family had eclipsed $59,000 as of early Friday.

    “Luis Adrian was a bright light in the world known for his smile,” the GoFundMe listing reads. “He was generous, he loved to protect younger kids, he also loved his family and God with all his heart. He was always happy, loving and hungry.”

    Classmates of the charismatic sixth-grader are also struggling to process Tuesday’s deadly crash, KABC reported.

    “He was a very kindhearted person,” classmate Harper Waters told the station. “He didn’t make just me, but he made a lot of kids smile. I’d walk into that class with such a bad attitude, and I’d come out with a smile because of him.”

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  • San Diego police announce plans for DUI checkpoint on Thursday night

    A DUI checkpoint in San Diego. (File photo courtesy of the San Diego Police Department)

    The San Diego Police Department announced plans for a DUI checkpoint somewhere in the city limits on Thursday night.

    Officers will be stopping drivers from 10 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday to check for alcohol or marijuana impairment as well as proper licensing.

    Police said the checkpoint location will be chosen based on a history of past DUI crashes and arrests.

    Checkpoints like this are often announced in advance, with the department noting, “The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.”

    Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

    Funding for Thursday’s checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.


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  • Man killed in Aurora street racing crash with suspected drunken driver

    A passenger in a sedan racing down East Alameda Parkway early Saturday morning died after the driver lost control and crashed, police said.

    Aurora officers responded to the rollover crash just west of South Chambers Road on Alameda at about 12:45 a.m. Saturday, according to a news release from the department.

    Police said the BMW sedan was street racing down Alameda from Sable Boulevard when the driver, 19-year-old Edwin Rosales-Sandoval of Denver, crashed on a curve.

    The sedan left the roadway, struck a grocery store sign and rolled, police said. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

    Paramedics took Rosales-Sandoval and a 17-year-old girl in the car to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

    Another passenger, an unidentified adult man, died at the scene of the crash, police said. He will be identified by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office.

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  • Suspect in fatal Denver hit-and-run at 16th Street drove onto sidewalk, hit victim

    The suspect in a fatal hit-and-run on the edge of Denver’s 16th Street pedestrian mall abandoned his car and fled the scene on foot, according to court documents.

    Milton McBride, 27, allegedly drove through the gate of a Denver parking garage early Sunday morning, hit another vehicle on Market Street and hopped the curb near the 16th Street intersection, according to his arrest affidavit.

    When he drove onto the sidewalk, McBride struck a billboard-type sign and pushed it onto the victim, who died at the scene, police wrote in the affidavit.

    McBride was arrested Sunday on suspicion of vehicular homicide. As of Tuesday morning, he had not yet been charged, and his next court date had not been set.

    Denver officers responded to the fatal crash at 16th and Market streets shortly after 2:15 a.m. Sunday. When they arrived, they found the dead victim and the suspect vehicle, but the driver had fled the scene.

    Witnesses told investigators that the driver got out of his vehicle after the crash and left on foot without calling 911 or rendering medical aid, police said.

    Officers found McBride roughly 1/5 mile away, in the 1700 block of Wazee Street, at about 2:45 a.m. Sunday, according to court documents.

    When they contacted McBride, officers noted his speech was slurred, his breath smelled like alcohol, he was staggering and stumbling and his eyes were bloodshot, according to the arrest affidavit.

    McBride was not offered a voluntary field sobriety test because he was immediately detained and, after being positively identified by a witness as the suspect driver, arrested, police said in the document.

    Paramedics took McBride to a nearby hospital for blood testing. During that time, he repeatedly told officers that he hadn’t hit anyone and no one had died, according to the affidavit.

    The results of the blood test were not publicly available as of Tuesday.

    McBride’s license was suspended at the time of the crash, and he had a warrant out for his arrest from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for a domestic violence and child abuse case, court records show.

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  • Charlotte-area lobbyist and former lawmaker facing DUI charge in Charleston, SC

    Jason Saine, at the time a state representative, walks to his desk after speaking in the House chamber on Jan. 13, 2021, at the North Carolina General Assembly.

    Jason Saine, at the time a state representative, walks to his desk after speaking in the House chamber on Jan. 13, 2021, at the North Carolina General Assembly.


    Travis Long

    tlong@newsobserver.com

    Jason Saine, a Raleigh lobbyist and former North Carolina lawmaker, was charged with driving under the influence in South Carolina on Sept. 8, according to online sheriff’s office records and a Charleston Police Department incident report.

    The Lincolnton Republican, who was a powerful lawmaker and remains influential in Raleigh as a lobbyist, called it “an error in judgment.”

    Saine, 51, was booked and released and awaits a court date on Nov. 21.

    A Charleston police officer pulled Saine over shortly before midnight on Sept. 7 after seeing him driving the wrong way on one-way Coming Street, according to a police report obtained by McClatchy through a public records request.

    Saine told the officer he had two vodka and soda mixed drinks at Marbled & Fin steakhouse, according to the report.

    He was arrested after being given field sobriety tests, the report stated. His blood alcohol was later found by testing at the police department to be 0.14, the report stated.

    Police issued Saine a written warning for driving the wrong way on a one-way street, the report said.

    The officer’s body camera and dash camera were on during the incident, according to the police report.

    A court docket for the City of Charleston Municipal Court says the DUI charge is a first offense. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content above 0.08.

    Saine served in the House from 2011 to 2024. He was best known in his time at the General Assembly for being one of the top House budget writers and being the major driver behind legalizing sports betting in North Carolina, which drew bipartisan support. He resigned from the House in August 2024.

    Saine told The News & Observer in July 2024 that it was “time to go” and that he planned on working in the private sector, leaving the door open to becoming a lobbyist.

    Earlier in 2024, Saine and other Republican lawmakers faced questions about a distillery tour funded by free market group Greater Carolina, which was the subject of a progressive group’s ethics complaint filed with the Secretary of State.

    Saine is a lobbyist with The Southern Group. His clients include the city of Charlotte, IBM, Charter Communications, Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas, Betson Gaming and the Sports Betting Alliance.

    “Following a late evening dinner on that Sunday evening with friends, I did receive a traffic violation from the Charleston Police Department,” Saine told The News & Observer by phone on Monday, reading a statement.

    “It was certainly an error in judgment on my part, especially for someone who has consistently used ride-sharing services. But I’m sorry that this event has distracted from real issues, and I’m grateful for the support of my friends and family,” Saine said.

    Saine declined to comment further pending the outcome of his case.

    While Saine left office more than a year ago, a sitting state lawmaker faces a driving while impaired charge in North Carolina.

    Sen. Norman Sanderson, 74, was arrested this month and faces additional charges of having an open container of alcohol and failing to obey a traffic officer, The N&O previously reported.

    In a statement after the incident near the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, Sanderson, an Arapahoe Republican, called it a “regrettable mistake, and I take responsibility for my actions.”

    Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer

    Andrew Dys covers breaking news and public safety for The Herald, where he has been a reporter and columnist since 2000. He has won 51 South Carolina Press Association awards for his coverage of crime, race, justice, and people. He is author of the book “Slice of Dys” and his work is in the U.S. Library of Congress.

    Andrew Dys,Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan

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  • Drunken driver arrested in fatal Wheat Ridge crash

    A man has been arrested in a four-vehicle crash that killed one person and injured two others, according to the Wheat Ridge Police Department. Police said the man was under the influence at the time of the crash.

    Cesar Hernandez Sanchez, 32, was traveling westbound on Colorado 58 just after 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 when he crossed over the dirt median into eastbound traffic, striking three vehicles.

    One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while two other victims were taken to the hospital with serious bodily injuries. Wheat Ridge police said both are expected to be okay at this time.

    Sanchez was also hospitalized with serious injuries, but was discharged from the hospital on Thursday. Since then, he has been booked into the Jefferson County Jail.

    Sanchez faces charges including two counts of vehicular homicide, four counts of vehicular assault, reckless driving and driving under the influence. He also faces seven traffic offenses, including failure to display lights with low visibility, failure to drive in single lane and driving the wrong way on a one-way roadway.

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  • Chula Vista PD announces Friday night DUI checkpoint

    A DUI checkpoint in San Diego County. (File photo courtesy SDSO)

    The Chula Vista Police Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint within the city on Friday, the department announced Wednesday.

    The checkpoint will take place from 5 p.m. to midnight.

    “Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” CVPD Traffic Bureau Agent Brian Carter said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety.”

    Police reminded the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol, but some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving, according to the department.

    “While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal. Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license,” the department said in a statement.

    Funding for DUI checkpoints was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


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  • Colorado driver in New Jersey crash that killed 4 was nearly 3 times over legal limit for alcohol, police say

    The Colorado man charged in the death of four teenagers in a fatal wrong-way crash on the New Jersey Turnpike was drunk when he struck the group’s car head-on, according to court documents.

    Christopher Neff, a 41-year-old man from Westminster, was found to have a blood-alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit at the time of the crash, according to an arrest affidavit released to The Denver Post on Thursday.

    Police obtained a sample of Neff’s blood from the hospital for testing and found he had a 0.22% blood-alcohol content at the time of the blood draw, investigators wrote in the document. The legal limit for driving is 0.08%.

    Several witnesses told investigators that they smelled “the strong odor of an alcohol beverage emanating from Mr. Neff’s breath,” police wrote.

    Surveillance videos from multiple businesses in the area captured Neff arriving at the nearby Turnpike Inn at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police said in the affidavit. He was seen drinking multiple alcoholic beverages and, at one point, urinating outside the bar.

    Neff left the bar shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday and drove across the street to a truck stop, where he purchased food, police said.

    The man then drove onto an exit ramp for the Turnpike, almost colliding with another vehicle, and entered the highway headed the wrong direction, according to videos obtained by investigators. The fatal crash happened minutes later, at about 12:40 a.m. Sunday.

    Neff, driving northbound in the southbound lanes, crashed his 2021 Dodge Ram 2500 into a Mazda CX-5, with four teenagers inside, according to the New Jersey State Police. A semitrailer then hit the Mazda from behind.

    The crash killed 19-year-old Yaakov Kilberg of Lakewood, N.J.; 18-year-old Aharon Lebovits of Lakewood, N.J.; 18-year-old Chaim Grossman of Fallsburg, N.Y.; and 18-year-old Shlomo Cohen of Lakewood, N.J., police said.

    Paramedics took Neff to the hospital with serious injuries, where he remained as of Wednesday afternoon.

    When New Jersey officers searched Neff’s pickup truck, they found:

    • Two rifles, one with an attached suppressor;
    • A handgun;
    • A BB gun;
    • Several high-capacity handgun and rifle magazines;
    • Hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including hollow points and full metal jackets;
    • Psilocybin mushrooms, a criminalized hallucinogenic in New Jersey;
    • And methadone.

    Lauren Penington

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  • Santee hit-and-run DUI suspect arrested after fleeing crash, hiding near homes

    A San Diego Sheriff’s cruiser. (Photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)

    A 37-year-old man suspected of driving while intoxicated and injuring another motorist in a hit-and-run collision in Santee has been taken into custody, authorities announced Monday.

    Deputies were dispatched around 9:27 p.m. Sunday to the 9000 block of Mission Gorge Road to reports regarding a multi-vehicle collision, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

    The suspect traveled at a high rate of speed near Mission Gorge Road and Fanita Drive moments before crashing into another vehicle, leaving the occupant inside, obstructing traffic, before running toward the San Diego River, authorities said.

    The suspect, identified by authorities as Robert Panza, was attempting to hide under vehicles near homes and in bushes. A containment perimeter was established and Panza was found following assistance from a patrol helicopter, K9 unit and tips from the public, authorities said.

    “Panza appeared to be intoxicated and was taken into sheriff’s custody without incident,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

    Panza was subsequently booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant and hit-and-run offenses. Anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run was urged to call the Santee Sheriff’s Station at 619-956-4000.


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  • DA says county seeing increase in ‘whippet’ DUIs

    Nitrous oxide canisters and balloons for inhaling. (File photo courtesy Cleveland Clinic)

    There has been a recent increase in DUI cases involving drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide – commonly referred to as “whippets” – including three fatality cases in San Diego County over the past year, officials said Thursday.

    While nitrous oxide is legal for a variety of purposes ranging from medical to culinary, California has criminalized the recreational use of the drug, which involves inhaling the gas. Statewide, possession of nitrous oxide for recreational purposes or being under the influence of the drug for recreational purposes is a misdemeanor offense.

    But prosecutors say charging nitrous oxide-related DUI cases presents unique challenges, as toxicology tests might not detect the drug because it leaves the user’s system so quickly.

    Since October of last year, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Crime Lab has received 29 cases for inhalant testing regarding drivers suspected of operating vehicles while under the influence of nitrous oxide. Eight of those cases led to felony charges, while 18 involved crashes.

    Three of those felony cases included DUI homicide-related charges, while the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office says it did not file any charges for fatality cases involving the suspected use of nitrous oxide during the previous year.

    “The increase we’re seeing of drivers abusing this drug is extremely concerning, and it’s important that we curb this trend before it gets worse.,” said San Diego DA Summer Stephan.

    “We’re currently prosecuting three cases that include evidence of DUI drivers believed to have done ‘whippets’ before the separate crashes that killed or seriously injured their passengers or other drivers.”

    Some California cities and counties have also enacted local bans and restrictions on its recreational use or sale for such purposes, though the DA’s office said no such ordinance is in place in San Diego.

    Officials also say among the obstacles to curbing the drug’s use are retailers and online influencers who promote nitrous oxide products to young people.

    “While users seek a short-time high, the practice carries serious long-term risks,” San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez said in a statement.

    “This growing trend, particularly among young people, has been driven by social media promotion, easy access to large-volume containers and flavored products.”


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  • Stockton families mourn loved ones lost in Napa crash that claimed six lives

    7:00. REMEMBERING SIX PEOPLE KILLED IN A DEADLY CRASH WITH AN ALLEGEDLY DRUNK DRIVER AT THE WHEEL. THAT CRASH WAS OVER THE WEEKEND IN RURAL NAPA COUNTY. ALL BUT TWO OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT MINIVAN WERE KILLED WHEN THAT VEHICLE HIT A TREE. NOW THE DRIVER IS FACING MURDER CHARGES. THOSE VICTIMS ARE FROM THE STOCKTON AREA AND KCRA 3’S MARICELA DE LA CRUZ SPOKE WITH THREE OF THOSE FAMILIES. SUNDAY’S DEADLY CRASH IN NAPA COUNTY CLAIMED THE LIVES OF SIX FARM WORKERS FROM THE STOCKTON AREA. AUTHORITIES SAY 53 YEAR OLD NORBERTO CELERINO WAS INTOXICATED WHEN HE DROVE A MINIVAN CARRYING SEVEN PASSENGERS INTO A TREE. FOR GABRIEL LOPEZ, THE NEXT THREE DAYS WERE AGONIZING. LOPEZ AND HIS COUSINS SEARCHED FOR THEIR UNCLE, PEDRO LOPEZ GOMEZ, AND HIS BROTHER IN LAW, MARVIN SANTOS RUIZ, WHO HAD JUST STARTED HIS FIRST DAY ON THE JOB. WHILE THEY GOT CONFIRMATION THAT THEIR UNCLE DID NOT SURVIVE THE CRASH, SOME RELIEF CAME WHEN MARVIN CALLED FROM THE HOSPITAL. LOPEZ SAYS HE HASN’T BEEN ABLE TO VISIT MARVIN YET. BUT WHILE THE FAMILY CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF THEIR LOVED ONE. OTHERS ARE MOURNING. TODAY WE HEARD FROM THE FAMILY OF 42 YEAR OLD LORETO RICARDO HERNANDEZ. HIS DAUGHTER JASMINE TOLD US THAT HER FATHER WAS HER FIRST LOVE. HER HERO AND CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND, SAYING HE WILL BE REMEMBERED BY MANY. THE FAMILY IS NOW RAISING FUNDS TO COVER FUNERAL COSTS. RELATIVES OF 32 YEAR OLD BAY MARIPOSA RODRIGUEZ, WHO LIVE IN MEXICO, SAY THEY’RE DEVASTATED BY HIS DEATH. NORBERTO CELERINO, NOW FACING SIX COUNTS OF MURDER, IS STILL RECOVERING FROM HIS INJURIES. HE’LL BE FORMALLY CHARGED ONCE HE RECEIVES MEDICAL CLEARANCE. MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. CELERINO HAS AT LEAST TWO DUI CONVICTIONS IN SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY. AND IN FACT, A JUDGE HAD ALREADY WARNED HIM THAT HE COULD FACE

    Stockton families mourn loved ones lost in Napa crash that claimed six lives

    Updated: 9:32 PM PDT Sep 12, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Six farm workers from the Stockton area were killed in a crash in Napa County over the weekend, allegedly caused by an intoxicated driver who now faces murder charges.Authorities said 53-year-old Norberto Celerino was driving a minivan with seven passengers when it collided with a tree, resulting in the deaths of all but two occupants.Gabriel López, a family member of two victims, described the agonizing days following the crash. “We found out that my uncle was dead, but we couldn’t find Marvin,” López said. López and his cousins searched for their uncle, Pedro López Gomez, and his brother-in-law, Marvin Santiz Ruiz, who had just started his first day on the job. While they received confirmation that Pedro did not survive, relief came when Marvin called from the hospital.”He cried and said ‘I’m alive’ and he’s at the hospital,” López said. Marvin remains hospitalized, and López has not been able to visit him yet.While López’s family celebrates Marvin’s survival, others are mourning. The family of 42-year-old Loreto Ricardo Hernández shared their grief, with his daughter Jasmin describing him as her first love, hero, and childhood best friend, saying he will be remembered by many. The family is raising funds to cover funeral costs. Relatives of 32-year-old Beymar Reynosa Rodríguez, who live in Mexico, expressed their devastation over his death.Norberto Celerino, who is recovering from his injuries, will be formally charged once he receives medical clearance to appear in court. He has at least two DUI convictions in San Joaquin County, and a judge had previously warned him that he could face murder charges if he killed someone while driving under the influence.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    Six farm workers from the Stockton area were killed in a crash in Napa County over the weekend, allegedly caused by an intoxicated driver who now faces murder charges.

    Authorities said 53-year-old Norberto Celerino was driving a minivan with seven passengers when it collided with a tree, resulting in the deaths of all but two occupants.

    Gabriel López, a family member of two victims, described the agonizing days following the crash.

    “We found out that my uncle was dead, but we couldn’t find Marvin,” López said.

    López and his cousins searched for their uncle, Pedro López Gomez, and his brother-in-law, Marvin Santiz Ruiz, who had just started his first day on the job. While they received confirmation that Pedro did not survive, relief came when Marvin called from the hospital.

    “He cried and said ‘I’m alive’ and he’s at the hospital,” López said. Marvin remains hospitalized, and López has not been able to visit him yet.

    While López’s family celebrates Marvin’s survival, others are mourning. The family of 42-year-old Loreto Ricardo Hernández shared their grief, with his daughter Jasmin describing him as her first love, hero, and childhood best friend, saying he will be remembered by many. The family is raising funds to cover funeral costs.

    Relatives of 32-year-old Beymar Reynosa Rodríguez, who live in Mexico, expressed their devastation over his death.

    Norberto Celerino, who is recovering from his injuries, will be formally charged once he receives medical clearance to appear in court. He has at least two DUI convictions in San Joaquin County, and a judge had previously warned him that he could face murder charges if he killed someone while driving under the influence.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Driver arrested for DUI after high-speed crash on I-5 in Seattle

    A driver was arrested for DUI after a crash on southbound Interstate 5 near Corson in Seattle, according to the Washington State Patrol.

    Troopers said the collision happened late Thursday night.

    Witnesses told investigators the vehicle had been speeding before it crashed.

    Both the driver and passenger were not wearing seatbelts at the time, according to the State Patrol.

    They were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

    Officials said the driver was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence.

    No other vehicles were reported to be involved in the crash.

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  • National City police announce Saturday night DUI checkpoint

    A National City police cruiser with its lights on. (File photo courtesy of OnScene.TV)

    As Labor Day approaches and back-to-school parties get into full swing, law enforcement is cracking down on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

    The National City Police Department has additional officers on patrol through Labor Day – Sept. 1 – looking for suspected drivers under the influence.

    The additional efforts are part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign.

    The National City Police Department has also announced that it will hold a DUI checkpoint on
    Saturday August 23rd, 2025 from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. in the 3000 block of National City
    Boulevard.

    “While drunk driving is a significant traffic safety problem, driving while impaired is not just
    related to alcohol consumption,” the department said in a release.

    “Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and cannabis products may also impair someone’s ability to drive.”

    The police department says anybody who plans to drink or take medication with a driving warning label should plan for alternate transportation. More information can be found here.


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  • Wilsonville Man Sentenced To Over 4 Years In Prison For DUI Hit And Run – KXL

    WILSONVILLE, Ore. – A Wilsonville man who fled the scene of a crash that seriously injured three people was sentenced Wednesday to more than four and a half years in prison.

    Raul Emilio Vazquez, 24, pleaded guilty in Clackamas County Circuit Court to two counts of third-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants, and failing to perform the duties of a driver to injured persons. Several property-related charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

    The crash occurred just before 1 a.m. on Nov. 17, 2024, when Vazquez, driving a Ford F-250 pickup, collided with a 2012 Honda Accord at the intersection of Southwest Wilsonville Road and Interstate 5.

    The driver of the Honda and her two passengers, all in their mid-20s, were injured — two of them seriously. One passenger sustained a broken pelvis, collarbone and seven ribs. All three were taken to local hospitals.

    Vazquez fled the scene on foot but was later arrested at his apartment.

    More about:

    Grant McHill

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  • Leesburg High School principal arrested on DUI charge, documents show

    Leesburg High School principal arrested on DUI charge, documents show

    The Leesburg High School principal was arrested Saturday after driving under the influence, according to the Lake County booking website.The booking report identified the principal as 38-year-old Michael Randolph. He has been the principal at Leesburg High School since 2017. In 2021, Randolph was honored as the Teacher of the Year for the Lake County School District. According to the booking report, Randolph was arrested by the Clermont Police Department around 2:30 a.m.Randolph was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for driving under the influence; however, he has pleaded not guilty, according to Lake County Schools.He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting a $1,000 bond Saturday.The district acknowledged the seriousness of the charge and shared the following statement: “The District was recently informed of the arrest of Leesburg High School Principal Michael Randolph for driving under the influence. Mr. Randolph has pled not guilty to the charges. The incident did not occur during a school activity or involve students or employees. The District takes these charges seriously and holds all of its leaders to high standards of personal conduct. However, Mr. Randolph has not been adjudicated guilty of the charges and the District will reserve judgment and further comment until conclusion of the judicial process,” the district said. Randolph’s court date is scheduled for Nov. 13. WESH 2 News reached out to the Clermont Police Department for more information on the arrest but has not heard back.

    LEESBURG, Fla. —

    The Leesburg High School principal was arrested Saturday after driving under the influence, according to the Lake County booking website.

    The booking report identified the principal as 38-year-old Michael Randolph. He has been the principal at Leesburg High School since 2017.

    In 2021, Randolph was honored as the Teacher of the Year for the Lake County School District.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    According to the booking report, Randolph was arrested by the Clermont Police Department around 2:30 a.m.

    Randolph was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for driving under the influence; however, he has pleaded not guilty, according to Lake County Schools.

    He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting a $1,000 bond Saturday.

    The district acknowledged the seriousness of the charge and shared the following statement:

    “The District was recently informed of the arrest of Leesburg High School Principal Michael Randolph for driving under the influence. Mr. Randolph has pled not guilty to the charges. The incident did not occur during a school activity or involve students or employees. The District takes these charges seriously and holds all of its leaders to high standards of personal conduct. However, Mr. Randolph has not been adjudicated guilty of the charges and the District will reserve judgment and further comment until conclusion of the judicial process,” the district said.

    Randolph’s court date is scheduled for Nov. 13.

    WESH 2 News reached out to the Clermont Police Department for more information on the arrest but has not heard back.

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