Richmond suspect driving with suspended license for prior DUI

By CHP Contra Costa

Tuesday morning Dec. 13, 2022, at about 11:05am, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a wrong way driver traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Hwy 4 near Railroad Avenue. The wrong way vehicle (Dodge Durango) continued westbound in the eastbound lanes and collided head on into a Honda Accord traveling in the eastbound lanes of Hwy 4. Following the initial crash, the Honda was struck by a Toyota Highlander and was struck a third time by a three-axel tanker truck that were also traveling eastbound. All involved vehicles sustained major damage and came to rest within the eastbound lanes.

Following the crash, the driver of the Dodge fled the scene on foot but was apprehended by Pittsburg Police Department that came upon the scene shortly after.

The Honda was occupied by one adult driver and one adult passenger. The driver sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene and the passenger was transported to the hospital for major injuries. The Toyota was occupied by one adult driver and one infant passenger. Both occupants were transported to the hospital for complaint of pain injuries. The tanker truck was occupied by an adult driver who was uninjured.

According to a Mercury News report, the Contra Costa Coroner’s Office identified the victim as James Kuang age 50. Attempts to reach the Coroner’s Office to determine the victim’s city of residency were unsuccessful Friday.

CHP Contra Costa PIO Adam Lane said Friday that the wrong way driver is Michael Armstrong age 53 of Richmond was booked on charges of murder, DUI resulting in injury, driving the wrong way resulting in injury or death and driving with a suspended license for a prior DUI.

According to Contra Costa DA’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo, “the suspect was released from custody from the Martinez Detention Facility on Thursday by the U.S. Marshals because of a federal matter. So, CHP will not be bringing the case to the DA’s office for filing charges, today.”

At this time, it is believed drugs and/or alcohol impairment may have been a factor in this crash. This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this crash, the wrong way vehicle prior to the crash, or the events leading up to the crash, please contact CHP Contra Costa in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

No show in court, attorney pleads no contest for him; gets one night credit for time served; must attend 3-month DUI program; no other details, yet

By Allen D. Payton

During Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe’s DUI court hearing, Tuesday morning, Dec. 13, 2022, according to an Antioch resident who attended, his attorney, Dan O’Malley pled no contest on behalf of his client who was not in attendance. Judge Rebecca C. Hardie found Thorpe guilty and sentenced him to three years court probation and two nights in jail with credit for one night served. The second can be spent picking up litter.

Thorpe was also directed to not have any alcohol in him while driving and if stopped by the police he must submit to a field sobriety test.

According to Ted Asregadoo, Contra Costa DA’s Office PIO, “Mr. Thorpe’s additional day in jail will be served through the County Sheriff’s Custody Alternative Facility. He must also attend a DUI program for three months. There are standard terms, conditions, and fees he’s required to abide by and pay. The dollar amounts were listed by the Judge Hardie.”

Those will be listed in the minute order which is expected to be posted on the court’s website, later.

“CHP will have the arrest report that has his BAC level,” Asregadoo shared. “You’ll most likely have to come to the courthouse in Martinez to request the minute order — which will show the disposition of the case.” That will include “how long he’ll be on court probation, the alternative custody, and DUI school,” he added.

The Work Alternative Program allows individuals sentenced to less than 30 days in jail to work at various assigned worksites during daytime hours and receive day for day credit on their sentences. Participants will be required to perform physical labor for eight hours at one of many locations throughout Contra Costa County.

A request for the CHP’s full report of Thorpe’s arrest was made on Tuesday afternoon. CHP Public Information Officer Andrew Barclay responded “I will ask the Contra Costa Area to pull the report and start the process with our Public Records Unit.  They will review and make any necessary redactions prior to release. We have a public records unit in Sacramento that handles all of the redactions and ensures everything being released complies with the Government Codes governing PRA’s (Public Records Act requests).”

The government has up to 10 days to fulfill a Public Records Act request.

Attempts to reach Thorpe and his attorney for comment were unsuccessful prior to publication time.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

A CHP Golden Gate Division officer conducts a traffic stop for a suspected seat belt violation. Photo courtesy of CHP

Maximum Enforcement Period runs Wednesday through Sunday

By California Highway Patrol

As millions of people venture out for the Thanksgiving holiday, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is preparing for one of the busiest travel weekends in the nation.

To help motorists arrive at their destinations safely, the CHP will implement a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) and deploy all available officers through the holiday weekend. The MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 27.

“As with every holiday, the CHP will work to keep motorists safe as they travel to gatherings with friends and family,” said Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Our officers will be on patrol to take enforcement action as necessary and to provide assistance to motorists who are stranded or in need of help on the side of the road.”

During the MEP, CHP officers will be working to assist and educate motorists and enforce traffic safety laws throughout the state, actively looking for unsafe driving behaviors, including impaired or distracted driving, unsafe speed, and people not wearing seat belts.

According to the CHP’s MEP data, 42 people, including 16 pedestrians and one bicyclist, were killed in crashes in CHP’s jurisdiction during the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  CHP officers issued more than 5,600 citations for speed and seat belt violations.  Additionally, CHP officers made 1,033 arrests for driving under the influence during the four-day period. 

“Enjoy your Thanksgiving festivities, but please celebrate responsibly, wear your seat belt, and always designate a sober, nondrinking driver,” said Commissioner Ray.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

By CHP – Contra Costa

Sunday morning Nov. 20, 2022, at about 2:10 AM, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a single vehicle crash on Sugar Barge Road in Bethel Island. Our preliminary investigation indicates a Toyota truck left the roadway and collided with a tree.

CHP and emergency personnel arrived on scene and the driver was pronounced deceased. According to the Contra Costa Coroner’s office the driver was Lilith Guentert, age 47 of Antioch.

This crash is still under investigation, if anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By CHP – Contra Costa

Wednesday morning, Nov. 16, 2022, at about 3:55 am, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on Highway 4 westbound west of Bailey Road. At the time of the crash, a pedestrian was within the roadway of Hwy 4 westbound.

A Toyota Tacoma traveling westbound was unable to avoid the pedestrian and struck the person. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and the driver of the Tacoma was not injured.

Efforts to obtain the identity of the deceased pedestrian were unsuccessful prior to publication time.

This crash is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980.

Please check back later for any updates.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

One victim from Vacaville, four from Vallejo

By CHP – Contra Costa

Early Thursday morning, Nov 17, 2022, at about 12:10 am, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a wrong way driver traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Highway 4 near Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg. The wrong way vehicle, a Hyundai Elantra, continued eastbound in the westbound lanes and collided head on into a Ford Flex traveling in the westbound lanes of Hwy 4, west of Loveridge Road. Both vehicles sustained major damage and came to rest within the westbound lanes.

The driver and sole occupant of the Ford sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The Hyundai was occupied by one adult driver and three juvenile passengers, all occupants sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office PIO Jimmy Lee, the victims were Lasaundra Goode age 44 of Vacaville and the driver of the Elantra was Tiara Tucker age 27 of Vallejo. The three children in one of the cars was Mariah Mihailovic age 5, Keilani Johnson-Ochoa age 4 and Kaliyah Johnson-Ochoa age 9, all also from Vallejo.

At this time, it is undetermined if drugs and/or alcohol were a factor. For more details see the CBS News Bay Area report about the crash.

This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this crash, the wrong way vehicle prior to the crash, or the events leading up to the crash, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Killed Antioch grandmother, blinded Concord nurse

By CHP-Contra Costa

On Friday October 21, 2022, Mark Navone was sentenced in Contra Costa County Superior Court to a 22-year prison sentence after being found guilty of numerous charges relating to throwing objects at vehicles.

Navone, 38-years-old was arrested after a California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigation identified him as the suspect in multiple incidents of vehicles being struck by thrown objects, such as rocks and bricks, on Hwy 4, near Hwy 242. Navone’s malicious actions resulted in the death of a 63-year-old grandmother from Antioch as well as the blinding of a 37-year-old delivery nurse from Concord. Navone was arrested on April 2, 2021, by Contra Costa Area CHP officers on a wide range of felony charges.

We would like to thank Contra Costa Area CHP investigators, CHP Golden Gate Division Investigative Services Unit Detectives, the Concord Police Department, the Antioch Police Department, and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for their incredible work in building this case. We would also like to thank the public for the valuable information they provided that enabled us to put this case together and ultimately hold Navone responsible for his actions.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

“Don’t Drive Impaired” campaign runs through Sept. 30, 2023

By Katy Goodson, Information Officer, California Highway Patrol Office of the Commissioner

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) are partnering on a new year-long campaign of education and enforcement efforts aimed at reducing the number of crashes caused by impaired drivers.  The grant-funded “Don’t Drive Impaired” campaign runs through September 30, 2023.

In 2020, 669 people were killed and 10,646 were injured in driving under the influence crashes^[i] within the CHP’s jurisdiction.  Each one of these injuries and deaths represents a preventable tragedy, and a continued need to focus efforts on reducing impaired driving. 

“Law enforcement throughout the state continues to do their part by removing impaired drivers from the roadway,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray.  “Reducing impaired driving through education and enforcement remains a high priority, and this campaign provides us another opportunity to further that goal.  It is never worth the risk to drive impaired.  Always designate a sober driver.”

The OTS grant provides the CHP with funding to conduct additional saturation patrols, DUI checkpoints, and traffic safety education efforts throughout California.  These efforts are designed to remove DUI drivers from the roadway and educate the public about the dangers of impaired driving.  Additionally, the CHP will actively participate in California’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over efforts.

The CHP reminds the public, “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Alcohol.”  Cannabis, impairing medications, illegal drugs, or any combination can affect a driver’s ability to drive, and will result in an arrest for those who are found to be under the influence.  Always designate a sober driver, take public transportation, or use a taxi or ride-share.  There is always a better option than getting behind the wheel while impaired.

Additionally, the CHP would like to remind the public to call 9-1-1 if they observe a suspected DUI driver.  Be prepared to provide the dispatcher a location, direction of travel, and vehicle description.

If you have questions regarding impaired driving, please contact your local CHP Area office.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the OTS, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

[1] DUI Primary Collision Factor crashes within CHP jurisdiction, according to CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.