The crash occurred at approximately 1:40 p.m. on West Capitol Avenue near the Enterprise exit, according to the West Sacramento Police Department.
West Sacramento, CA — A 31-year-old woman was killed Sunday afternoon in a traffic collision in West Sacramento, where police say alcohol and speed appear to have been contributing factors.
The crash occurred at approximately 1:40 p.m. on West Capitol Avenue near the Enterprise exit, according to the West Sacramento Police Department.
Authorities said a 28-year-old West Sacramento man was driving his car in the area when he collided with a Sacramento woman driving another car under unclear circumstances.
The woman died from injuries sustained in the collision. She was about to celebrate her 32nd birthday, authorities said.
The man was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. Police said he was later released from the hospital and subsequently arrested and booked into the Yolo County Jail on suspicion of felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter.
The department's traffic unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. Officials said no additional suspect information is being released as the investigation remains ongoing.
In 2023, 1,355 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes in California, representing about 33 % of all traffic fatalities statewide — roughly one in three deaths on the road involved a driver or rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 % or higher. This marked a 4.5 % decrease from 2022 but still reflects a persistent problem with impaired driving. Alcohol-related fatalities have increased significantly — nearly 55 % since 2014 — underscoring the challenge DUI poses to traffic safety in the state. Unsafe alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of deadly crashes, particularly at night and on weekends, and enforcement and prevention efforts continue statewide through OTS-supported programs. Behavioral factors like drinking before driving, combined with speed and lack of restraint use, amplify the risk of fatal outcomes. Reducing DUI fatalities remains a major focus of California's traffic safety strategies.
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