3-year-old in grave condition after Hwy. 4 rollover crash
By Robert Salonga
Contra Costa Times
Article Launched: 05/01/2008 11:54:39 PM PDT
ANTIOCH — A 3-year-old boy is in grave condition after he and his 8-month-old brother were ejected in a nighttime rollover crash on Highway 4 that also critically injured the driver, who was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, the California Highway Patrol said.
The children were taken to Children's Hospital Oakland. Both suffered head trauma, but the 8-month-old boy is in stable condition, Officer Tom Maguire said.
The driver of the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero, 23-year-old Pittsburg resident Nicole Berry, was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek in critical condition, and three other adult passengers, including the boys' mother, did not require hospitalization, Maguire said.
The CHP is recommending two counts of child endangerment charges against the boys' mother, 25-year-old Pittsburg resident Shawna George, who failed to properly restrain her children in the car seats found in the wreckage, Maguire said.
The uninjured passengers were all wearing seat belts. Investigators believe Berry was not, Maguire said. It's unclear how the four passengers in the rear row were seated, he said.
The rollover occurred about 1:20 a.m. in the westbound lanes near Somersville Road, with witnesses first calling dispatchers to report that a baby was lying in the far-left lane, the CHP said. Another child was also outside the vehicle, witnesses said.
Maguire said for unknown reasons, the Mitsubishi swerved to the right onto the dirt shoulder and then overcorrected to the left, resulting in the vehicle rolling over twice before landing on its wheels.
Emergency responders, including a helicopter, prompted the CHP to close all westbound lanes for about an hour.
After the occupants' safety was secured, Berry was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence before being transported to the hospital.
She could be charged with vehicular manslaughter if any of the victims die, Maguire said.
Reach Robert Salonga at 925-943-8013 or
[email protected]. Staff writer Matthias Gafni contributed to this report.
