Driver Accused In DUI Crash At Petaluma SMART Station: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A Marin County man is suspected of DUI in a collision late Saturday night at the downtown Petaluma SMART parking lot, police said.

Petaluma police were alerted at 11:56 p.m. Saturday about a single-vehicle crash on the corner of East Washington Street and Copeland Street where the driver collided with a parking lot chain link fence along East Washington, just west of the Downtown Petaluma SMART station.

The car continued through the gravel parking lot and dragged the fence approximately 50 yards, then continued through another chain link fence and went southbound through a vacant lot between the SMART station and Copeland Street, police said.

The car continued for approximately 150 yards before it came to rest, police said.

As officers got to the scene, the driver — later identified. as Christopher Murica, 23, of San Rafael — ran off. He was detained a short time later and a DUI investigation was initiated based on his objective signs of alcohol intoxication, police said.

Murica was later booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of DUI and hit and run.