Two arrested on suspicion of DUI after fatal crash in North Highlands, CHP says

A man was killed and two drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following a two-vehicle crash Sunday night in North Highlands, authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol said the crash happened about 10:04 p.m. on southbound Watt Avenue just before North Haven Drive when a BMW sedan collided with a Nissan Altima that was turning onto the roadway from a nearby business driveway, CHP North Sacramento office spokesperson Officer Justin Fetterly said.

The BMW struck the Nissan on the driver’s side then veered across the raised median and hit two large trees before overturning. It came to rest in the northbound lanes, investigators said.

A passenger in the BMW was pronounced dead at the scene by Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District personnel, CHP officials said. He was identified as Volodymyr Molchanovych, 30, of Sacramento by the county Coroner’s Office.

The driver of the BMW, identified by the CHP as a 28-year-old man, was taken to Mercy San Juan Medical Center with serious injuries. Officers later determined he was under the influence of alcohol and placed him under arrest. The CHP said the driver initially refused a chemical test, and officers obtained a warrant for a blood draw.

The Nissan’s driver, identified as a 50-year-old man, was also arrested at the scene on suspicion of DUI, according to the CHP. A passenger in the Nissan was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Neither man was in jail custody Monday afternoon, and it was not known if the drivers would face additional charges.

The CHP’s North Sacramento office continues to investigate the crash.

This story was originally published May 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM.