Passenger Arrested For DUI After Pulling Emergency Brake, Causing Geyserville Crash
GEYSERVILLE (CBS SF) -- An intoxicated car passenger was arrested for DUI in Geyserville on Friday night after he pulled the emergency brake, causing the driver to lose control, a California Highway Patrol officer said.
Brent Franco, 28, of Geyserville, was riding north on U.S. Highway 101 in a Mazda Protege driven by his 19-year-old girlfriend when the incident occurred around 10 p.m. south of Geyserville Avenue, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said.
The girlfriend, also a Geyserville resident, told CHP officers that Franco had been extremely agitated and was hitting the inside of the car and making threats, Sloat said.
The car was traveling at 65 to 70 mph when Franco pulled the emergency brake, causing his girlfriend to lose control of the Mazda, which went 100 feet down an embankment, Sloat said.
Franco exited the Mazda and ran east, but he was found nearby at his home. He appeared to be intoxicated but refused to take sobriety tests, Sloat said.
Sloat said that Franco, who had just been released from probation for a previous DUI conviction, was arrested again for DUI because he took control of the vehicle when he applied the emergency brake.
He was booked into Sonoma County Jail for DUI and making criminal threats, Sloat said. His girlfriend was not injured.
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