A Santa Rosa woman killed in a car crash last month after leaving River Rock Casino had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit, according to the CHP.

Amporn Ta, 39, was traveling west on Highway 128 after leaving the Geyserville casino when she crossed a double-yellow line to pass slower traffic, lost control and veered down an embankment.

She died en route to a hospital. A toxicology report released this week indicated her blood-alcohol level was 0.17 percent, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said. The legal limit for driving is 0.08 percent.

Her death marks the first known drunken-driving fatality connected to River Rock since the casino received its liquor license three years ago. The casino is owned by the Dry Creek Pomo tribe.

At the time the license was granted, many in the neighboring community feared a resulting rash of drunken driving on Highway 128, the winding, two-lane road that serves the area.

Figures show that drunken-driving arrests in the area have been climbing. In 2007, the CHP made 31 DUI arrests in the Alexander Valley. In 2008, the CHP made 50 DUI arrests. In 2009, they made 51 DUI arrests. And in 2010, they made 79.

But those numbers are driven by an increase in enforcement, Sloat said, rather than by a spike in drunken driving. He noted DUI crashes have not followed a similar trend. In 2007, there were 23 DUI collisions in the Alexander Valley, he said. In 2010, there were 15.

“It wasn’t the huge headache everyone expected,” he said.
Last year, River Rock contracted with the CHP to provide 43 special patrols focused exclusively on drunken driving. In 2009, they contracted for 34 patrols.
Alison Doran, a board member on the Alexander Valley Association, which represents residents and businesses in the area, said that major problems have not ensued since the casino began serving alcohol.

“As far I know this was the first and only really serious accident,” she said. “Our impression is that everybody is definitely keeping an eye on it and they are managing it pretty well.”

David Fendrick, the casino’s CEO, did not return calls seeking comment on Wednesday and Thursday. Last month, he defended the casino’s vigilance against drunken driving, saying staff are trained to recognize and stop excessive drinking.

Despite such steps, county leaders have been wary of increasing alcohol sales at the casino. In May, Fendrick stirred controversy when he told investors the casino was interested in opening additional bars and serving alcohol on the gaming floor later this year.

The original terms of River Rock’s liquor license prohibited floor sales, although patrons could buy drinks at a nearby restaurant or bar and bring them in.
After county leaders indicated opposition at such plans, the casino agreed to continue the prohibition on floor sales and other limits through 2015.
“Public safety is the No. 1 priority and that is the reason why the county wanted to ensure that the current limits on alcohol could be extended,” said Supervisor Mike McGuire, who represents the area.