Rohnert Park Man Hits Pedestrian, Gets Arrested on Suspicion of DUI

By Bay City News Service

The California Highway Patrol arrested a Rohnert Park man for driving under the influence Monday afternoon after he allegedly struck a pedestrian on state Highway 116 southeast of Sebastopol.

Ernesto Enriques, 31, was driving a Chrysler Sebring at 45-55 mph west on Highway 116 near Industrial Avenue around 2:20 p.m., CHP Officer Jon Sloat said.

The Sebring drifted off the road and onto the dirt shoulder striking 51-year-old Michael Levine of Sebastopol, Sloat said. Levine was carrying two temporary signs as he walked on the right shoulder of the road, Sloat said. The Chrysler then hit a parked van before it stopped, Sloat said.

Levine suffered moderate head and back injuries and Enriques suffered major injuries, including a broken leg and extensive hand and facial trauma, Sloat said.

Both men were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Enriques, whose license was suspended since 2006 due to a prior DUI conviction, was arrested on suspicion of DUI, Sloat said.

A DUI is usually charged as a misdemeanor, but can be charged as a felony when someone is injured during the incident.

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