Alcohol, Anger Fueled Motorist's Napa Rampage

An angry driver, who allegedly had too much to drink, went on a rampage Wednesday afternoon, which got him a visit to the hospital and a stay in the Napa County jail, according to Napa County Sheriff Capt. Tracey Stuart.

“He was angry and had been drinking. He told us he wanted to run down people,” Stuart said.

Timothy Case’s wild ride started around 3 p.m., when an off-duty sheriff’s deputy saw him driving a green sedan erratically northbound in the dirt median on Highway 29, near Soscol Ferry Road.

Case, 50, of St. Helena, drove the sedan toward a parked trunk in the dirt turnout at the intersection, barely missing the truck, Stuart said.

As the off-duty deputy was calling police dispatch to report a reckless driver, the sedan drove directly toward the deputy’s own vehicle, she said, adding, the sedan spun donuts and took off northbound on Soscol Ferry Road, heading toward the Napa Corporate Park area.

Case continued to drive his vehicle recklessly crossing into the path of oncoming traffic, causing several motorists to veer off the road, Stuart said.

Case continued to drive recklessly through the corporate park area, flipping off other motorists and waving a vodka bottle, Stuart said.

Two sheriff’s deputies were in the area and tried to stop Case’s vehicle.

Eventually Case made it to Highway 221 where he allegedly continued his reckless driving, heading toward Napa south of Kennedy Park.

Case wasn’t about to give up without a fight. He drove into the oncoming traffic, including sheriff’s patrol car, which had to take evasive action, Stuart said.

The drama continued north to the KFC parking lot in Napa South Marketplace parking lot, where Case allegedly drove his sedan directly into a small truck pulling a trailer, causing the trailer to overturn and causing major damage to his sedan, which by this time had bitten the dust.

Case suffered a small cut to his forehead, Stuart said. He was treated at Queen of the Valley Medical Center, released, and booked into Napa County Jail on four felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon (his car,) DUI and driving without a license.

Media release from the Napa County Sheriff's Office

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