Humboldt Co. CHP Press Release:

On August 19, 2012, at approximately 1:20 pm, 36 year old Robert Jared Sochor of Willits, California was the driver and only occupant of his 1990 Toyota Camry while traveling northbound on US-101 near Ryan Creek Road in northern Mendocino County.  Due to Sochor’s level of impairment, he allowed his vehicle to cross over the double yellow lines directly into oncoming southbound traffic.  Sochor’s vehicle subsequently sideswiped a southbound traveling 2009 Honda Civic driven by 17 year old Mitzi Hu Pierson of Laytonville, California.  Sochor’s vehicle continued out of control traveling northbound in the southbound traffic lane and collided into a 2009 Kia Rondo driven by 54 year old Duane Richard Tims of Fontana, California.  Pierson and her passengers, 17 year old Colton Gover and 17 year old Joseph White, both of Laytonville, California, were transported by ground ambulance to Howard Memorial Hospital in Ukiah with moderate injuries.  Sochor was transported by air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with moderate to major injuries. 

 

Sochor was subsequently placed under arrest for felony DUI.  All parties had their seatbelts on at the time of the traffic collision.  US-101 northbound and southbound were shut down for approximately one hour while the collision was being investigated.  The California Highway Patrol Garberville Area office is investigating this traffic collision.