A three-car chain reaction crash on Mitchell Road the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 9 resulted in minor injuries to occupants of two vehicles and the arrest of a driver on DUI charges.

The crash occurred at 6:12 p.m. in the southbound lanes of the 3900 block of Mitchell Road near Farmer Boys. Police say that Mary Ellen Sanchez, 59, of Ceres, rear-ended a 2012 silver Honda Pilot which was stopped awaiting a green light at Service Road. The impact sent the Honda into the rear of a 2005 GMC Yukon.

When police arrived, Sanchez was standing outside her 2007 Chevy Impala with a half full bottle of Corona lying on the floorboard. She was holding her small lifeless dog in her arms which police say died in the impact. Sanchez placed the dog on the ground and told it to go back to the car, too drunk to know it was dead, said Ceres Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jose Berber.

Occupants of both vehicles sustained minor injuries but the extent of their injuries was not available as of press time.