Coroner IDs Driver, Passenger Who Died In Crash Near St. Helena

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Two Stockton residents died in a crash early Saturday on state Highway 29 near St. Helena, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Napa County Sheriff-Coroner's Office.

The collision happened at 1:56 a.m. Saturday when the driver of a red BMW 325i sedan was traveling at an unsafe speed southbound on SR-29 south of Whitehall Lane and lost control of the car, the CHP said.

The BMW crossed the northbound traffic lane and collided with a sign on the east shoulder of the roadway. After colliding with the sign, the BMW overturned, CHP Officer Jaret Paulson said.

The driver and right-front passenger suffered fatal injuries, Paulson said.

The driver was identified Monday by the Napa County Coroner's Office as Anthony Sanchez, 28, of Stockton. The passenger was identified as Caitlin Leedy, 27, also of Stockton. Both died at the scene, the coroner's office told Patch.

The two passengers in the back seat were transported to the Providence Queen of the Valley Hospital with moderate injuries, according to the CHP.

"This traffic crash is still actively being investigated and officers are investigating the potential the driver was under the influence of alcohol," Paulson said.

Sanchez and Leedy were both students at the Culinary Institute of America's Greystone campus, the Napa Valley Register reported.

A St. Helena police officer clocked the 2012 BMW going 127 mph shortly before the crash. The officer turned on their flashing patrol lights but the BMW sped off before a pursuit could begin, according to the newspaper.