Crime & Safety

Drunken Driver Nearly Hits Cop Car Early Saturday Morning

Police arrested a 19-year-old Cotati man who they said was driving under the influence.

Public safety officers in Rohnert Park had a close call early this morning when a drunken driver nearly struck a patrol car parked with its hazard lights on while assisting a disabled vehicle, authorities said.

At about 4:15 a.m., Officer Adam Strongman was patrolling a stretch of East Cotati Avenue near Snyder Lane when he saw a Toyota Prius suddenly veer off the road. According to the Department of Public Safety, Strongman observed the Prius jump a curb, strike a speed limit sign -- which was thrown some 40 feet down the sidewalk -- and hit a tree before it came to a rest in the roadway.

Strongman checked on the occupant of the vehicle, which had sustained major front-end damage, and found the 19-year-old driver uninjured. She said she had looked down while using her computer tablet's navigation system when she veered off the road, according to the public safety department.

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While waiting for a tow truck to remove the Prius from the roadway, officers blocked off the right lane of westbound East Cotati Avenue with their patrol cars and activated the emergency lights to direct traffic around the standing vehicles.

A Jeep Wrangler approached the patrol cars at what officers said were fast speeds. The vehicle did not switch lanes and was barreling down on the patrol car of Officer Dave Sutter.

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Seconds before impact, the Jeep's driver braked abruptly, stopping and barely missing hitting the patrol car. Sutter contacted the driver, Braford Prescott II, 19, of Cotati, and observed the teen driver displayed signs of intoxication.

The officer began a DUI investigation, and Prescott was placed under arrest after allegedly failing field sobriety tests, according to the Department of Public Safety.

Prescott was arrested on suspicion of DUI. A blood alcohol content test later indicated Prescott exceeded the legal limit, 0.05 percent for drivers under 21, by several times, authorities said. Prescott was booked at county jail on suspicion of DUI.

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