DUI Crash Kills Santa Rosa Woman
Two young friends were traveling together along Mountain Hawk Drive in Santa Rosa during the evening hours of Sunday, January 1, 2017. The driver was operating her motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol which played as a factor leading to a fatal crash that unfortunately killed her friend in the passenger seat.
DUI Driver Crashes Car
A 19-year-old woman was behind the wheel of her two-door Chevrolet Cavalier with her 18-year-old friend sitting in the passenger seat. The driver, who was under the influence of alcohol at the time, lost control of her vehicle which caused her vehicle to skid off the roadway and crash into a sycamore tree at approximately 11:00 pm. Both occupants in the Chevrolet suffered injuries due to the impact of the crash.
Neighbors Assist Injured Occupants
Neighbors heard a loud crash and quickly rushed outside to the scene of the crash to assist the injured occupants of the mangled vehicle. Sheila Peterson, a resident of the Skyhawk neighborhood, quickly ran outside with her boyfriend with flashlights, a wrench to break the windows of the vehicle and a knife to cut off the seat belts of the secured occupants. However, there was little the couple could do when they realized that the passenger of the vehicle passed away due to the crash. Peterson stated that she held the hand of the driver to comfort her until authorities and emergency personnel arrived.
Damion Asker, another resident in the neighborhood, came outside to the scene of the crash. Asker immediately went to the damaged passenger’s side of the vehicle but could not help the passenger because she passed away due to the grave condition of her injuries. Asker and other good Samaritans attempted to keep the driver awake and her neck stable because Asker feared that the driver may have suffered neck injuries. Asker stated that the driver at one point sought out her friend in the vehicle. However, Asker had to inform her that her friend was no longer with them which seemed to upset the driver. Asker described the demeanor of the driver as conscious but dazed which may have been linked to the smell of alcohol in her breath.
Officers Arrest DUI Driver
The driver of the vehicle was identified as a 19-year-old Santa Rosa woman. She was detained by authorities on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Sergeant Summer Black from the Santa Rosa Police Department indicated that officers found evidence of alcohol and marijuana near the scene of the accident. Investigators also believe that speed played as a factor in this fatal automobile accident. Guillory suffered minor injuries in the crash and her bail has been set up at $100,000.
Young Life Forever Remembered
The family members of Michajla Bailey Kostecka remembered her for her bold, loud and lively personality. Kostecka was an adventurous young woman that enjoyed living life to the fullest and always brightened up the moods of all her loved ones.
A small memorial was set up for Michajla Bailey Kostecka at the crash scene by her loved ones. The memorial consisted of a handwritten note and bouquets of beautiful mums and roses. A man was observed at the crash scene memorial on the morning of Monday, January 2, 2016. The man was observed leaving flowers and hugging the sycamore tree where the crash happened. Neighbor Damion Asker came outside to speak with the man where the man later identified himself as the father of Kostecka. This was where the two estranged men hugged each other to hearten their moods.
A GoFundMe account has also been created by the loved ones of Kostecka.
Our condolences are with the family members of this young woman that lost her life in this tragic automobile accident.
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Sacramento Wrongful Death Attorney
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Content Attribution for DUI Crash Kills Santa Rosa Woman: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6498098-181/suspected-dui-crash-in-east?artslide=0
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