Driver Tries to Make Pass on Highway Offramp, Crashes

A driver who tried to pass another vehicle as he was getting off a freeway exit in Novato lost control, rolled his SUV, injured two of his passengers in the crash and got busted on suspicion of DUI, the California Highway Patrol said Monday.

Patiellos Freitas Faria, 19, of Vallejo was arrested at 3 p.m. on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and faces a second felony charge for causing a wreck that injured others, according to the Marin County Jail booking log.

Two of three teenage passengers in Faria's 1998 Ford Explorer suffered minor injuries and were transported to Marin General Hospital, said CHP Officer Patrick Roth.

At about 2:25 p.m., Faria was leaving the Rowland Boulevard exit from southbound Highway 101 when he attempted to pass another car, cutting across a dirt section next to the pavement, Roth said. Faria lost control and rolled the SUV, which came to rest on its tires.

Faria's bail was set at $50,000.