Man faces 18 felony charges in fatal crash

A San Francisco man was charged with 18 felonies related to a fatal accident that occurred on Oct. 29 on Highway 121 in Sonoma. A Cherry Valley kindergartener and her father were critically injured in the crash.

According to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office, Damodar Chandradas, 25, was charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and with gross negligence; driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and causing great bodily injury and or death; possession for sale and transportation of methamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA; felon in possession of a loaded firearm; and various great bodily injury enhancements, including causing paralysis, gun charges and driving on a suspended license. Chandradas was already on probation for previous felony charges at the time of the crash.

The incidient occurred Oct. 29 when Chandradas was driving a Jaguar south on Highway 121 at high rates of speed before he lost control of his vehicle around a blind curve, causing him to swerve into the northbound lane of traffic. His Jaguar collided with a Toyota Corolla carrying Gustavo Mejias, 26, and his 5-year-old daughter, Jazzlin, who attends the Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley in Petaluma. Chandradas' passenger, Sergei Beoglozan, died at the scene.

In the Jaguar, officers found cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and a loaded semi-automatic long-rifle with 53 live rounds of ammunition.

Jazzlin sustained spinal cord injuries that it expected to leave her paralyzed. She will spend up to two months at Oakland Children's Hospital. Her father suffered two broken legs.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said Damodar Chandradas' bail will be set at more than $1 million. In addition, he has a no bail probation violation hold in place out of San Francisco County.

"My office has worked tirelessly in conjunction with the Napa C.H.P. to gather the evidence necessary to bring these charges and place this man in custody," Ravitch said in a statement.

Friends and family of the Jazzlin and Gustavo Mejias are seeking funds to defray their growing medical costs. To help the Mejia family, visit any Exchange Bank and donate to the Jazzlin Mejia Trust Fund or contribute via Paypal at jazzlinmejia.com.

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