Driver Hits Car, Pole, Tree In Suspected DUI: Petaluma Police

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma man was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI with injury Wednesday night when he caused a crash and collided with a pole and a tree at a local intersection, according to the Petaluma Police Department.

Several people called 911 just before 9 p.m. Wednesday to report that a driver hit a tree as he tried to leave the scene of the crash at the intersection of Bodega Avenue and North Webster Street, Petaluma police Sgt. Rick Cox said in a news release.

A large group of people was gathered around the suspect, later identified as Brian Kane, 49, of Petaluma, when officers got to the scene, Cox said.

The investigation revealed Kane was driving his white 2016 Chevrolet pickup truck north on North Webster when he sped through a red light at Bodega Avenue and collided with a woman driving a 2019 black Hyundai, Cox said.

The woman was traveling westbound on Bodega at a safe speed and had a green light when she entered the intersection where she was struck by Kane, Cox said.

"The victim lost control of her vehicle and drove up onto a nearby sidewalk," Cox said.

As Kane slammed into a traffic signal pole, witnesses saw the truck's back tires spinning as if he was trying to take off, Cox said.

Kane, whose truck had a badly damaged front end and was down to the three tires, still did not stop, witnesses said.

He drove in reverse for 100 feet as the bottom of his truck scraped the roadway but he was forced to stop when his truck slammed into a large tree, witnesses told police.

Witnesses helped Kane get out of his truck and kept him at the scene.

The Hyundai driver was treated at a local hospital for undisclosed injuries.

When Kane did not perform well on field sobriety tests, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury, Cox said.

He was treated at a hospital for minor injuries before he was booked into Sonoma County jail.

No other injuries were reported but the tree was partially uprooted and was cut down because of safety concerns, Cox said.

As of 12:30 p.m. Friday, jail records showed Kane was no longer in custody.