Crime & Safety

CHP: Driver Impaired in Deadly Pinole Crash

Driver, in John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, is arrested in wreck that killed a Vallejo woman.

The driver involved in a fatal accident on San Pablo Avenue Saturday night was "impaired" by alcohol and has been arrested, a California Highway Patrol officer said on Sunday.

The accident killed Vallejo resident Rauna Filippi, 53 of Vallejo, according to the Contra Costa County Coroner's office. The driver, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, remained in John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek Sunday night, said CHP public information officer Sam Morgan. The driver is Terry Burns, 44, of Vallejo, Morgan said.

An investigation is continuing to determine the relationship between Burns and Filippi and whether any other vehicles might have been involved in the accident, Morgan said.

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An autopsy is scheduled to be performed on Filippi Monday, the coroner's office reported Sunday. Filippi was wearing a shoulder-lap belt, but suffered a direct impact in the collision, Morgan said.

Filippi had been a passenger in a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer that hit a traffic signal pole at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Tara Hills Drive, just outside Pinole city limits, according to the California High Patrol. While there was steady rain around the time of the collision, driver impairment appeared to be involved.

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"It does look like alcohol was a contributing factor," in the crash, Morgan said.

The accident happened at about 7 p.m. Saturday.


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