Man charged with felony DUI in fatal freeway crash

BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

A fiery crash on Highway 101 Wednesday that killed one person and seriously injured a California Highway Patrol officer was caused by a 20-year-old intoxicated driver, authorities said yesterday.
Officer Shawna Davison, a CHP spokeswoman, said Jeremy White, 20, of Paso Robles was arrested after crashing his full-sized Chevy pickup into a Nissan SUV that had been pulled over.

She said White is being held in Ventura County Jail and has been charged with felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter.
Davison said the impact of the collision caused the SUV to burst into flames and propelled 11-year CHP motorcycle officer Anthony Pedeferri onto a dirt embankment, where he landed on his head.
The collision occurred just south of Padre Juan Canyon Road at 4:33 p.m. and caused all northbound lanes of the 101 to be closed until 5 a.m. on Thursday. Traffic was diverted onto the Pacific Coast Highway just north of Ventura.
Pedeferri was in the process of making a routine traffic stop when the pickup, which was loaded with two motorcycles, slammed into the SUV.
Davison said the driver of the Nissan, 20-year-old Andreas Parra of Phoenix, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pedeferri was airlifted to the Ventura County Medical Center for treatment, where he remained in critical condition last night. Davison said the CHP will not elaborate on the extremity of his injuries. She did say his assignment as a motorcycle officer, which requires the use of a helmet, likely helped save his life.
“I would definitely say it assisted in putting him where he is today, which is alive,” Davison said.
One other person was in the truck with White and both were treated for minor injures at a local hospital.
At a press conference yesterday, representatives from Santa Barbara law enforcement agencies gathered at the local CHP office to urge holiday travelers to be safe.
At the top of the warning list is to not get behind the wheel of an automobile after drinking, officials said.
“We had an incident last night where it really hit home,” said Jeff Sgobba, commander of the Santa Barbara area CHP. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him. He’s very lucky to be alive.”