The following is a press release issued by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office:
On January 10, 2023 at approximately 10:08 am, Dispatch received a 911 call from CHP that a car was stuck in flood waters in the 6000 block of Trenton-Healdsburg Road, Forestville. The caller reported there was water in the car, then the line disconnected. Dispatch immediately tried to call back several times with no response. The Marine Unit, Henry 1 helicopter, CHP Helicopter, several deputies, and Sonoma County Fire District Swift Water Rescue personnel all responded to the scene to search for the car and driver. They searched until sunset when the search became too dangerous to continue in the dark. They did not find the car or driver.
At approximately 6:00 am on January 11, Marine Unit deputies and Sonoma County Fire Swift Water Rescue personnel returned to the scene to continue search efforts at sunrise. At approximately 7:46 am, they found a car submerged in flood waters approximately 100 yards off the road. The car was submerged in approximately 8-10 feet to water, making it difficult to determine if the car was occupied. A Marine Unit deputy dove into the water and determined the car was occupied but the occupant had died. Deputies and fire personnel then removed the occupant from the car.
The Coroner’s Office confirmed the occupant is Daphne Fontino, 43, Ukiah. The Sheriff’s Office sends our condolences to victim’s family and friends during this challenging time.
We would like to thank Sonoma County Fire and CHP for their assistance.
Thank you all for looking for my friend! Gif bless you all for your effort! She was a wonderful lay scared of water and she couldn’t swim! Love you all for finding her!!! She is with the Angels and Condolence to her family! It’s been hard! She will be missed! Love you Dalpine!!!