While I have no specific details of Sacramento DUI checkpoints or numbers of law enforcement officials that will be patrolling on the 4th I must warn you not to drink and drive.

Holidays, especially the 4th of July are when DUI patrols make the most arrests not only because more people drink and drive, but becuase the have their eyes wide open on these dates and their number double. If you’re drinking on the 4th make sure to call a cab(always a good idea.)

California Highway patrol officers were called to a two-vehicle accident on Highway 190 at Road 208 early Thursday morning for an accident that partially blocked the highway for several hours.

Chua Yang, 19, of Lindsay, was driving a 2001 Ford Mustang south on Road 208, just north of Highway 190, while intoxicated, at about 5:05 a.m. CHP reports. Meanwhile Roy E. Battles, 51, of Springville, was driving a 1997 International tractor-trailer rig west on Highway 190.

Yang did not stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Road 208 and Highway 190 and tried to turn east onto the highway, into the path of the big rig, CHP reports.

The big rig hit the Mustang, which came to rest in the eastbound lane of the highway. The big rig overturned on the south shoulder of the highway just west of Road 208.

A passenger in the Mustang, Andrea M. Massaro, 18, of Porterville, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Sierra View District Hospital for treatment.

Yang and Battles each suffered minor injuries, with Yang taken to Sierra View and Battles not requiring immediate care.

Eastbound traffic on Highway 190 was blocked for several hours while the overturned trailer was unloaded and righted.

Yang was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs causing injury to another, and was booked at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility.

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Arnoldo Placencia was planning to celebrate his eldest daughter’s 23rd birthday Thursday and to walk her down the wedding aisle in September. He and his wife, Alicia, talked about taking a big vacation for their 25th wedding anniversary in November.

But the father of five will never mark those family milestones.

Placencia, 49, was working in a construction zone in the Arden Arcade area of Sacramento County just after 1 a.m. Thursday when a driver struck and killed him, according to California Highway Patrol officials.

Nancy E. Richards, 26, of Sacramento, was driving 70mph when she veered into the construction zone at the intersection of Marconi and Howe avenues and hit Placencia, authorities said.

Richards also died in the crash.

CHP Officer Adrian Quintero said Richards’ car continued westbound on Marconi and hit a flatbed truck after striking Placencia.

Quintero said an alcohol odor was detected on Richards, but investigators are waiting for a toxicology report to determine if she was driving drunk.

Placencia’s family grieved for a man they said was a loving husband and father, caring brother, dedicated worker and devout Catholic.

“Everybody is in shock and dismay and devastated about the tragedy,” said Placencia’s 41-year-old brother, Oscar Ramirez. Placencia was the second of 10 siblings. He had five daughters of his own, the youngest 12 years old.

Choking back tears during a telephone interview, Ramirez said Placencia was the big brother who showed him the ropes, such as how to fix a car.

“He was always giving of his time, and always willing to lend a listening ear,” Ramirez said.

Placencia was good with his hands and won awards for his body work and paint designs on cars, his brother said.

“He was very funny and very warm,” said Veronica Potts, Placencia’s cousin. “He’d give you a big bear hug. You can see the kindness in his eyes when he smiled at you.”

Placencia had worked with Ahlstrom Construction for more than 25 years. His wife worried because of close calls on job sites in the past, so he was careful about his safety, according to the brother.

At the time of the accident, Placencia was on the overnight shift, supervising a crew working on contract with the Sacramento Suburban Water District. Ed Formosa, the district’s assistant general manager, said the crew was locating underground utilities where a new water main will be installed. The construction site was properly lighted and marked with signage, Formosa said.

“It’s important that when people drive in delineated construction zones to slow down,” Formosa said. “We’re very heartbroken about this incident.”

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The undersecretary who oversees California parolees and adult and juvenile prisons has been arrested on suspicion of Sacramento drunk driving while in a state vehicle.

The California Highway Patrol stopped the 47-year-old  for speeding shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday near Rancho Murieta, the rural Sacramento County community where he lives. Officer Michael Bradley said his blood alcohol level exceeded 0.08, the legal limit. The CHP would not release the precise level.

Sacramento DUIs Have Big Consequences…

Corrections department spokesman Seth Unger says Kernan is on personal leave awaiting discipline, which could range from a suspension to the loss of his job. He says it is unclear if Kernan was on state business when he was arrested for Sacramento DUI.

The official is free on $1,480 bail and is awaiting a July 16 arraignment. He was appointed as one of three undersecretaries in the corrections department in November 2008.

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