Suspected DUI driver in head-on Highway 12 crash

CHP investigators Tuesday were seeking witnesses to Monday’s head-on crash on Highway 12 west of Santa Rosa, which caused one driver to miscarry and left two people with life-threatening injuries, according to the CHP.

Officers suspected driver Tristan Taliesin, 41, of Santa Rosa of being under the influence of drugs and arrested him on a felony DUI charge, said CHP Officer Jon Sloat.

The 4:45 p.m. crash happened west of Fulton Road. It tied up traffic on the two-lane highway and forced evening commuters to divert to nearby rural lanes.

Taliesin, headed eastbound, drifted into the opposite lane near Merced Avenue. His Toyota Scion SUV collided with a Toyota Camry driven by Elizabeth Ehrmann-Subia, 33, of Santa Rosa, Sloat said.

Ehrmann-Subia was 22 weeks pregnant and the impact caused her to miscarry, Sloat said.

The woman and Taliesin both suffered life-threatening injuries. They were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital along with Ashley Kontos, 27, of Petaluma who was riding in the Scion. The impact also killed a dog riding in the Scion.

Hospital conditions weren’t available early Tuesday afternoon.

Taliesin was released to the hospital due to his injuries.

Officers asked anyone with information to call 1-800-TELL-CHP or contact officers at the Rohnert Park CHP office at 707-588-1400 ext. 238.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.