3 killed, several others injured in Napa County crash; driver arrested on suspicion of DUI

3 killed in Napa crash, driver arrested on suspicion of DUI involving a drug

A driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI involving a drug after a crash on Silverado Trail left three people dead and several others seriously injured.

NAPA, Calif. - A driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI Saturday afternoon following a head-on, three-car crash in Napa County that left three people dead and several others critically injured.

The crash occurred just before noon along the Silverado Trail, north of Oak Knoll Avenue in Napa County, the California Highway Patrol said.

That stretch of the trail was closed Saturday afternoon as the CHP investigated.

Head-on crash

What we know:

The CHP said a Mitsubishi sedan was heading southbound on the Silverado Trail, when the driver, later arrested for DUI, sideswiped a BMW driving the other direction. 

The Mitsubishi then continued southbound and struck another car, a Toyota sedan, that had been driving behind the BMW, according to the CHP.

The Mitsubishi driver was taken to St. Helena Hospital, and later transported to Santa Rosa Memorial. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a drug, the CHP said.

The driver, identified as William Dene Brumley, of Vallejo, is expected to survive, authorities said.

One of the passengers of the Mitsubishi died at the scene and another passenger later died at the hospital.

The driver of the Toyota and three passengers were taken to the hospital with major injuries. One of the passengers seated in the right, rear of the sedan died, the CHP said.

The driver and passenger of the BMW had complaints of pain injuries, the CHP said.

The victims have not been identified. 

Local residents react

Residents say crashes along the corridor are not unusual.

"I was thinking, here we go again," said Harold Banks, a Napa resident. "I’ve been around for quite a while, and I’ve seen a lot of accidents happen. People pulling over, weaving in and out."

Pam Moorhead, another Napa resident, said she was driving nearby when traffic was diverted.

"We were we were driving… and we got detoured, and I found out later on what had happened. They need to throw the book at the person. I mean, people that drive and drink or do drugs. Yeah, no throw the book," she said.

Both directions of Silverado Trail were closed for several hours as authorities investigated the crash, rerouting traffic to Highway 29.

Tom Barras, who frequently drives along Silverado Trail, said the road requires constant attention.

"One has to be alert. We don't go up the trail at night," Barras said.

Banks said he avoids biking on Silverado Trail because of safety concerns.

"There's a trail on the other side, a bike path that follows railroad tracks where you don't have to deal with regular vehicles on the road," he said.