North Bay

Drunk Man Crashes Car in North Bay, Injures Passenger: Police

A man was arrested early Saturday morning in Petaluma after allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, hitting a tree and injuring a passenger, according to police.

Police said officers responded to the 2000 block of Falcon Ridge Drive shortly before 5 a.m. on reports of a vehicle that had collided with a tree and flipped on its side.

Upon arrival, officers found the driver, 21-year-old Marc Morales-Velarde, outside the vehicle attempting to free an injured female passenger.

Police said officers could smell alcohol on Morales-Velarde's breath and he allegedly admitted to consuming alcohol before submitting to a field sobriety test.

According to police, the preliminary alcohol screen test showed his blood alcohol level to be twice the legal limit. Both Morales-Velarde and the female passenger were transported to a local hospital to be treated for injuries, police said.

The condition of female was not immediately available. Morales-Velarde was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI causing injury to another. He lateR was booked into the Sonoma County Jail, according to police.

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