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Bail Increased In Fatal Wrong Way Sonoma Crash

Posted: 10:55 am PST October 31, 2005

Bail was increased to $500,000 Monday in Sonoma County Superior Court for an Oakmont man charged with killing a woman while driving the wrong way on U.S. Highway 101.

The California Highway Patrol reported that 83-year-old Cedric Beebe caused three crashes around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, one of which killed 21-year-old Jessica Wong of Daly City.

Wong was a passenger in a Toyota Camry driven by 27-year-old Anne Buchanan of Berkeley. Buchanan swerved to avoid Beebe's 2006 Toyota Corolla and her vehicle collided with a tree, according to the CHP. Buchanan was injured but survived the crash.

A Healdsburg man was not injured when he swerved his northbound 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix to avoid Beebe's southbound Toyota, according to the CHP, but a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy was injured when he swerved into the center divide of the highway to avoid Beebe's car.

Beebe's arraignment was continued until Nov. 2 so he can retain an attorney. Judge Rene Chouteau increased bail from $50,000 to $500,000 and ordered a psychiatric examination of the defendant.

Deputy District Attorney Spencer Brady asked for the increase in bail because he was concerned Beebe might post $50,000 bail and go to Mexico. Beebe told the judge he was supposed to leave on Tuesday for a 10-day trip to Mexico.

Beebe's son Gordon told the judge he would try to retain an attorney by Wednesday after Deputy Public Defender Kathleen Pozzi said Beebe's financial status does not qualify him for representation by the county public defender's office.

Beebe is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence, DUI with a blood-alcohol level at or above 0.08 percent, hit and run, driving onto the other side of a divided highway and reckless driving causing bodily injury.

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