A woman was charged and arrested in connection with a car crash that left a Santa Rosa police officer with injuries. The woman was identified by the authorities as Maria Lopez, 39, of Santa Rosa.
According to the details shared by the Santa Rosa police, the incident occurred while the police was responding to a fire. Officers with the police were trying to manage the traffic at the Cleveland Avenue and Ridgeway Avenue. One of the officers parked his patrol car on the scene after turning on the patrol lights.
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Maria Lopez, who was driving a white Hyundai Accent at the time, crashed into the patrol car at about this time. The crash caused some damage to the patrol vehicle. The officer, who was present in the vehicle at the time, also sustained some injuries. He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and then released shortly.
Lopez remained largely safe in the crash and had no injuries to report. She stayed at the scene of the crash, was found by the police officers to exhibit evident signs of intoxication. Based on these signs, the officers determined that she had been driving under the influence at the time of the crash. She was subsequently arrested and taken to the Sonoma County Jail.
A charge of DUI causing injury was brought against her. If no prior DUI convictions are found on her record, Lopez may be able to plead for mild penalties. Subsequent accident reports may reveal the actual sentence she faces.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
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