California Peace Officer Killed by Repeat Drunk Driver
August 19, 2024
CALIFORNIA: A devastating incident occurred in Santa Rosa, California, on Friday, resulting in the tragic loss of a dedicated peace officer. Jessica Avila Munoz, a 31-year-old officer with the Sonoma County Probation Department, was killed in a collision with a drunk driver who had a suspended license and was accused of his fifth DUI.
According to reports, Munoz was driving her white Honda when she was struck by a truck driven by Nhan Van Nguyen, 68, who ran a red light while turning onto eastbound Sebastopol Road. The impact caused Munoz's vehicle to collide with a third vehicle, a Prius, leaving her trapped inside. Despite efforts by firefighters to extract her, Munoz succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
The incident is particularly tragic as Munoz was on her way to pick up her 13-year-old daughter at the time of the accident. The Prius driver, who remained at the scene, was uninjured.
Law enforcement assessed Nguyen and determined he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. Further investigation revealed that Nguyen had four prior arrests for DUI and a suspended driver's license.
Nguyen was taken to the hospital and released with no injuries before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail for gross vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI causing great bodily injury.
