IMAGES: Man arrested for DUI after gnarly Petaluma crash

Phil Mayer
·1 min read

(KRON) — A suspected DUI driver was arrested in a nearby creek after he was involved in a gnarly crash early Sunday morning, the Petaluma Police Department said. The crash left two vehicles with severe damage.

Image from the Petaluma Police Department.
Image from the Petaluma Police Department.
Image from the Petaluma Police Department.
Image from the Petaluma Police Department.
Image from the Petaluma Police Department.
Image from the Petaluma Police Department.

Petaluma’s police and fire departments were called to the scene of the crash on the 1500 block of East Washington Street at about 1:17 a.m. One driver was seen running away from the scene.

The suspect, later identified as Frank Powers Monachello, jumped over a fence into the backyard of a resident in the area. He was eventually found in a creek in the area of East Washington Street and Maria Drive and arrested without incident.

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Two women in their 50s from Petaluma were in the other involved vehicle. Both of their injuries were described as “minor.”

Police believe Monachello was driving “at an unsafe and excessive speed” when he rear-ended the other car.

Monachello “displayed objective signs of alcohol intoxication,” and a police investigation confirmed he was driving drunk, PPD said. He was arrested for DUI (felony), hit-and-run (felony), reckless driving (misdemeanor), and resisting/obstructing a police officer (misdemeanor).

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