Petaluma woman identified; alcohol part of fatal crash investigation

<p>A 26-year-old woman who died Tuesday evening in a single-car crash outside Petaluma has been identified as Lindsey G. Brandon, a fourth-grade teacher at Penngrove Elementary School last year.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>Brandon, a Petaluma resident, died at the scene of the 5:45 p.m. crash on Lakeville Highway after losing control of her 2008 Honda Civic and striking a eucalyptus tree near Lakeville Road 2, the CHP said.</p><p>A sales receipt found inside her car suggested she was in Vallejo earlier in the day and was returning home when the crash occurred, CHP Sgt. Robert Mota said.</p><p>Brandon, a 2001 graduate of Casa Grande High School, has been a substitute teacher in Petaluma City Schools for the last couple of years, Deputy Superintendent Steve Bolman said.</p><p>Last year, she stepped in as a relief teacher at Penngrove, teaching fourth grade until the end of the school year in June, he said.</p><p>She was released at that point along with all the other relief teachers because of budget cuts, Bolman said.</p><p>She was still on the substitute list for the coming year, he said.</p><p>Witnesses said Brandon was driving recklessly before the Tuesday night crash, spinning out of control as she turned from Highway 37 onto northbound Lakeville Highway, the CHP said.</p><p>Officers found a bottle of hard liquor at the scene and believe drinking was a factor in the crash, authorities said.</p><p>Toxicology tests run after her death will not be available for several weeks.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com.</p>