In a report appearing on the SF Gate website, KTVU anchorman Frank Somerville now faces two DUI charges.
According to court documents, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Somerville will be facing the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and a second charge of driving with a blood-alcohol level of more than 0.08 percent. Somerville could also face enhanced charges because his blood alcohol was more than 0.15 percent – which is near twice the legal limit.
The crash happened on December 31, 2021, on New Year’s Eve in Oakland near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Broadway Street just after 7:45 p.m. when Somerville’s 2014 Porsche 911 rear-ended a silver Audi.
The Oakland Police Department Report indicates that the driver of the Audi stepped out of his vehicle before Somerville pushed it across the intersection and rammed it into a light pole.
Officers responding to the scene said that Somerville displayed characteristics consistent with alcohol intoxication, such as bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and a distinct “odor of alcohol emanating from his person.” After conducting a series of field sobriety tests, two Breathalyzer tests indicated that Somerville had a blood alcohol level of 0.239 percent and 0.219 percent.
Somerville was taken to an area hospital for treatment and was booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin upon his release. As a result of the incident, Somerville was suspended indefinitely as an anchor in September of 2021 but continues to comment on news stories on his YouTube channel.
Somerville is scheduled to appear for a hearing on May 6.
