Six people are dead after a crash in far northern Napa County–and the driver of the lone vehicle involved is charged with DUI. CHP says the Minivan went off a road in the unincorporated community of Pope Valley, near Calistoga. In addition to those who died at the scene, 2 other people, including the driver, were injured and had to be airlifted to a trauma center. The injured driver was arrested at the hospital. He is facing DUI causing injury or death charges as the investigation continues.
Two men from Covelo have been sentenced to long prison terms for the death of a farm worker in Mendocino County in 2023. Iran Hoaglen was sentenced to 25 years to life, while co-defendant Lawrence Joaquin received a 17-year sentence. Hoaglen was found guilty of using the hatchet that killed the victim in October 2023. He has a long rap sheet dating back to a first stint in state prison in 2003 for probation violations and at least six felonies since. Joaqin is also a repeat offender with a 15-year criminal record, including one felony and five misdemeanor convictions. DA David Eyster personally prosecuted the case from the beginning.
