Maximum Sentence Ends Long, Sad Fatal 2020 DUI Case

SONOMA VALLEY, CA — A man was sentenced earlier this week to the maximum term of 12 years and eight months in state prison for a deadly drunk-driving crash that killed a man and seriously injured his wife in Sonoma.

A judge imposed the sentence Tuesday, saying that the defendant Abdulhadi Awad, a Vallejo resident, showed "no remorse" during the case, concluding a legal process that spanned nearly six years from the date of the crash.

The January 2020 crash killed Jamie Narkunski and left his wife, Natalie Weiss, with life-threatening injuries.

Awad was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI after he went through a red light at the intersection of Napa Road, and collided with a silver 2013 Subaru driven by Narkunski, a Sausalito resident.

A driver called 911 after spotting Awad driving erratically, swerving onto sidewalks, and all asleep at a traffic light, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office said.

Before the crash, a driver followed Awad, who was driving erratically, swerving, and almost driving onto sidewalks, according to the DA's office. The driver watched Awad appear to fall asleep at a traffic light before accelerating through residential areas near West Spain Street in Sonoma. He narrowly avoiding multiple collisions before striking the rear end of a vehicle without stopping.

Awad continued driving until his BMW broadsided a Subaru at the intersection of 8th Street East and Napa Road. The Subaru was occupied by Narkunski and Weiss, who were in Sonoma celebrating Weiss’ birthday. Narkunski was pronounced dead at the scene, and Weiss sustained critical injuries requiring helicopter transport. Their dog, Harold, was euthanized due to the severity of his injuries.

Officers fouond Awad at the crash site, still seated in the driver’s seat of his BMW. His blood alcohol content registered .168 —more than twice the legal limit. At the time of the crash, Awad was on felony probation for a prior assault conviction.

Awad pled guilty in 2020, but criminal proceedings were later suspended after he was found incompetent to stand trial and he was committed to a state hospital. California law requires that a defendant be mentally competent at the time of sentencing. Once he was found incompetent, the court had no legal authority to sentence him, no matter how serious the crime.

The terms of his confinement had to be revisited regularly.

A medical evaluation concluded that he was unlikely to be restored to competency, a finding that typically under California law requires criminal charges to be dismissed. However, in December 2025, Awad was found restored to competency, allowing criminal proceedings to resume.

On Tuesday, Judge Mark Urioste sentenced Awad to the maximum term permitted by law for the offenses.