Sonoma Co. Man Arrested In Connection With Fatal South Bay DUI Crash

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A Sonoma County man was arrested in connection with a fatal suspected DUI crash in Santa Clara County over the weekend, authorities said.

Isaias Mendoza-Inijuez, 28 of Sonoma, was arrested on suspicion of homicide and driving under the influence with great bodily injury, Santa Clara police said.

At approximately 12:22 a.m. Saturday two vehicles collided on San Tomas Expressway and El Camino Real in Santa Clara, police said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a BMW had been traveling northbound through the intersection of San Tomas Expressway and El Camino Real when a Volvo allegedly drove against a red light at a high rate of speed and hit the BMW.

Police allege that the driver of the Volvo had an "odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and body."

The front passenger in the BMW was pronounced dead at the scene. Both drivers were taken to the hospital with major injuries, authorities said.

The BMW passenger who was killed was a 31-year-old man who was also a resident of Sonoma.

Police have turned the case over to the District Attorney's Office, they said.

This is an active investigation. Anyone with information helpful to this case is encouraged to contact Traffic Investigator S. Wilson at (408) 615-4764.

- Bay City News contributed to this report