KELSEYVILLE — Two were arrested early Saturday after a suspected alcohol-fueled collision left seven with injuries of various severity.
According to the California Highway Patrol, 21-year-old Kelseyville resident Jose A. Velazquez was driving a silver 2003 Acura MDX north on Highway 29 with passenger Jorge A. Lozano—also 21 and a Kelseyville resident—north of the 29’s intersection with Highway 175 toward Cobb.
At about 1:45 a.m., Velazquez, said the CHP, caused his vehicle to cross the 29’s yellow center lines “due to Velazquez’ level of intoxication” while traveling 50 miles per hour.
Velazquez then collided head-on with a 2017 Acura ILX being driven by Yessica Patino, a 23-year-old Clearlake resident, and carrying four passengers, of ages 16 to 35.
“The front left ends of each vehicle collided in the southbound lane,” said the CHP, “and Velasquez’ Acura continued northbound and rolled over, coming to rest on its wheels, on the east shoulder, facing a northerly direction. Patino’s Acura continued southbound spinning in a counter clockwise direction, coming to rest on its wheels, facing a northwesterly direction.”
According to the CHP, Patino was trapped in her seat and was extricated by emergency personnel. She was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital along with one of her passengers, another one of whom was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital. These two passengers, one of whom is 16 years old, sustained “major injuries,” according to the CHP. Both drivers, as well as the remaining passengers, sustained “minor injuries.”
“Alcohol was determined to be a factor in this collision,” said the CHP, who referred to the incident as a “Felony DUI.”
Both Velazquez and Lozano—the driver and the passenger of the silver Acura—were placed under arrest and booked into the Lake County Jail: Velazquez under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, and Lozano for what the CHP called “providing false information to a Peace Officer, and disorderly conduct,” as well as “obstructing a Peace Officer’s investigation.”
