CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Within just a few hours that stretched from late Saturday night into early Sunday morning, Clearlake Police officers made three arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol that resulted from three separate vehicle collisions.

A report from Sgt. Rodd Joseph said the crashes took place between 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:10 a.m. Sunday.

The first crash was a single-vehicle incident at the intersection of 32^nd and Boyles avenues, Joseph said.

When officers responded there at about 10:30 a.m., Joseph said they found a black Ford Taurus off the roadway.

Joseph said that, following an investigation, officers arrested 27-year-old Jack Brown of Clearlake for misdemeanor DUI. Brown's vehicle was towed and stored while he was booked into the Clearlake City Jail. There were no injuries.

At 12:10 a.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of 36^th and Phillips avenues for a single-vehicle collision, Joseph said.

When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered a single black Ford pickup that had been driven off the road and into the ditch, according to Joseph.

The driver, 40-year-old Kimberly Ratcliffe of Clearlake, became combative during the investigation and Joseph said she was arrested for misdemeanor DUI and felony resisting arrest.

Joseph said Ratcliffe – who was booked under the last name of Morgan – had to be placed in additional leg restraints to keep her from kicking out the patrol car windows while she was being transported to the Lake County Jail. He said the incident resulted in no injuries.

Officers came upon the third incident an hour later, at 1:10 a.m., as they were driving northbound on Highway 53, just north of 18^th Avenue, Joseph said.

By that point, the two-vehicle crash hadn't yet been reported to police, he said.

One vehicle, a red Ford Expedition, was still blocking the roadway for northbound traffic with major front-end damage. Joseph said the other vehicle, a blue Pontiac Montana minivan, had been pushed into the brush about 30 yards east of the edge of Highway 53, and had major rear end damage.

Joseph said there were injured passengers in both vehicles who were taken to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, some by ambulance.

The Expedition's driver, 29-year-old Efrain Alvarez of Lakeport, was arrested after officers determined he was under the influence of alcohol, Joseph said.

Joseph said Alvarez was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol due to the injured passengers in both vehicles, and was later booked into the Lake County Jail.

The northbound lanes of Highway 53 near the intersection of 18^th Avenue were closed for well over an hour while officers conducted the investigation, Joseph said. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

The arrestees appeared to have posted bail and been released since their arrests, based on jail records.

Joseph said the Clearlake Police Department wanted to remind all residents to use a designated drivers while consuming alcohol or any other intoxicating substance.

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