Teen arrested for DUI after killing girl and injuring 4 family members in crash, CHP says
A 13-year-old girl from Sonora was killed and her two brothers and parents were seriously injured after a teenage driver allegedly under the influence of alcohol crashed into their vehicle Sunday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Around 4 p.m. , Savanna Cooper, 18, of Angels Camp was arrested for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol and causing an injury, according to a news release. Cooper, along with a 17-year-old passenger, suffered moderate injuries and both were taken to a hospital. The passenger was not arrested.
The fatal collision happened on Highway 49, south of Deer Creek Road. The investigation found that Cooper’s 2006 Ford F-150 truck was traveling out of Angels Camp, heading north. The second vehicle, a 2017 Ford Escape SUV,carrying the family of five, was in the southbound lane, heading toward Angels Camp.
Russell Webster, 65, of Sonora, was driving the SUV at the time of the crash. There were four passengers: his wife, Rachel Webster, 52, their two sons, ages 11 and 13, and their 13-year-old daughter.
According to the release, Cooper was approaching Webster on the highway when she drove onto the right shoulder of the road, and into dirt, at an unknown speed and lost control of her vehicle. She then drove across her northbound lane into Webster’s lane, striking the front of his SUV with the right side of her truck.
The crash caused Webster to drive off the west side of the road and overturn. The SUV landed in the southbound lane, facing west.
Four of the five people in Webster’s vehicle were transported to medical centers with major injuries, the release said. Russell and the two boys were taken to UC Davis Medical Center. Rachel was taken to Modesto Memorial Medical Center.
The young girl was pronounced dead at Mark Twain Hospital, San Andreas CHP Officer Eric Parsons said.
The investigation is ongoing.
