A driver and pedestrian accident happened late in the evening on February 21. This time it wasn’t the driver who was drunk, but the pedestrian.
32-year-old Luis Avila-Arriaga of Napa was walking while he was intoxicated. Around 10:30 p.m. he attempted to cross Highway 29, north of Imola Avenue.
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As he was crossing the road, he walked directly into the path of Bettina Sichel from Sonoma. Sichel was driving southbound on Highway 29 at the time of the accident. Her estimated speed was around 55 miles per hour.
The larger vehicle that she was driving, a Land Rover, struck Avila-Arriaga and caused serious damage.
It was at the scene that officers determined that Avila-Arriaga was under the influence at the time of the accident.
Paramedics were called to the scene by the California Highway Patrol. They transported Avila-Arriaga to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa for treatment. He was reported to have major injuries, but no other updates have been released.
Officers determined that Sichel was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident.
Sichel was completely uninjured in the accident.
California has laws against being in public while you are intoxicated. This law states that if you are found to be “drunk in public”, it is punishable under the law.
This is considered a misdemeanor offense. A fine can be enforced up to $1000. The jail term is typically under 12 months.
It has not been released if Avila-Arriaga will be charged with a public intoxication charge.
Police are still investigating the accident. It is not clear where Avila-Arriaga was coming from or going to on foot at that time of night.
At this time, Sichel faces no charges for the accident.