Last month, Tim Mattos delivered a speech on drunk driving to Bay Area high school students that he’s given before. Students lined the bleachers at Rancho Cotate High School while the Rohnert Park police chief urged them to not drive under the influence.
“Understand, the difference between a graduation cap and casket is making the right choice,” Mattos told the students.
Hours later, tragedy hit the Sonoma high school. A Toyota Camry struck a utility pole a few towns over in Novato at around 1 a.m. on April 11, killing 17-year-old Rancho Cotate student Niko Vargas-Ortiz and leaving another student in critical condition. The 17-year-old driver was later arrested and charged with driving under the influence…