Woman dies in suspected DUI crash in Dixon
(Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
A Dixon woman died over the weekend following a multi-vehicle crash along the freeway in north Solano County.
The incident started to unravel early Sunday morning when a speeding Mazda sedan crashed with a silver Hyundai sedan along the west-bound lanes of Interstate 80 near Pitt School Road.
Several people stopped to offer assistance to the drivers involved in the crash, including Julie Phillips, an insurance agent from Dixon.
About three minutes after the initial crash, the driver of a red Toyota pick-up truck collided with several involved and uninvolved vehicles, authorities said. The pick-up truck fatally struck Philips, who was identified by family members in social media posts.
The driver of the Mazda sustained major injuries, while the driver of a Toyota Prius who stopped to help at the crash scene suffered minor injuries, police said. They were transported by ambulance to an area hospital where they are recovering from their injuries.
Police say they believe alcohol was a factor in the crash, and the driver of the pick-up truck — identified by authorities as 29-year-old Mason Paul Wessel — was arrested and charged with several felonies, including driving while under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter.
Wessel has a prior arrest from 2011 where he was charged with attempted murder in connection with a gang shooting in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to records reviewed by Solano NewsNet.
Phillips’ loved ones are now raising money via GoFundMe for her celebration of life.
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