John Birdsong Arrested After Sonora DUI Car Accident on Highway 49 near 5th Avenue

Sonora, California (December 9, 2019) – The California Highway Patrol has identified one of the two victims injured in a suspected DUI collision on Saturday evening in Sonora as 26-year-old Kyi Thomas of Sacramento.

The two-vehicle collision happened at about 6:00 p.m. on December 7, on Highway 49, near 5th Avenue in Jamestown.

As per the CHP report, a Nissan Pathfinder driven by 68-year-old John William Birdsong of La Grange at unsafe speed southbound on the highway rear-ended a Chevrolet van driven 27-year-old George Hernandez-Mejia of Pittsburg.

The Pathfinder was sent off the highway and down an embankment upon the impact.

Officials said Thomas and 20-year-old Kimberly Mondragon of East Adelanto who were riding in the van were taken to Adventist Health Sonora for treatment of minor injuries sustained in the crash.

Birdsong suffered minor injuries and was also rushed to Adventist Health Sonora for the treatment.

Birdsong was suspected of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at the time of the collision.

He was arrested and later booked into Tuolumne County Jail where he was charged for DUI.

The investigation is underway.