Rancho Cotate community mourns student killed in DUI crash

Niko Vargas Ortiz, 17, died in a Novato collision that injured four other teens, shaking the school district.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:10pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car windshield against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh camera flash. The cracked glass reflects a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the tragic consequences of drunk driving.The aftermath of a DUI crash leaves a community in mourning and renews calls for more education around impaired driving.Novato Today

A memorial vigil at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, California, honored 17-year-old Niko Vargas Ortiz, who died in a car crash involving a drunk driver. The tragedy came just days after the school's 'Every 15 Minutes' program, which aims to educate students about the dangers of impaired driving.

Why it matters

The death of a student has had a profound impact across the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District, where Vargas Ortiz was known by many. The crash has renewed calls for more education and prevention efforts around drunk driving, especially among teenagers.

The details

Police say the crash occurred just before 1 a.m. on April 11 in Novato, where a car carrying five teens, ages 16 to 18, collided with a utility pole. Vargas Ortiz died at the hospital, while the other four occupants, including the 17-year-old driver, were hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities expect the driver to be arrested on suspicion of DUI once released from the hospital.

  • The crash occurred on April 11, 2026.
  • Rancho Cotate High School held a vigil for Vargas Ortiz on April 17, 2026.
  • Classes resumed at Rancho Cotate on April 13, 2026, just two days after the crash.

The players

Niko Vargas Ortiz

A 17-year-old student at Rancho Cotate High School who died in the Novato car crash.

Maite Iturri

Superintendent of the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District, which is providing resources and support to grieving students and staff.

Heather Ramme

Principal of Rancho Cotate High School, where students created a memorial wall for Vargas Ortiz.

Debbie Lamaison

A school resource officer at Rancho Cotate High School who has been supporting students in the aftermath of the tragedy.

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What they’re saying

“The Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District has done an amazing job at rallying support from a lot of different agencies to have here on campus to support all the kids and the staff.”

— Debbie Lamaison, School Resource Officer

“There's no greater, more profound or horrible feeling and reality than to hear that your child has been injured or passed in a situation like this. How do we continue to educate and impress upon kids that they are not indestructible ... how do we continue to educate and prevent tragedies like this as a community?”

— Maite Iturri, Superintendent

What’s next

The Marin County District Attorney's Office is expected to formally charge the 17-year-old driver with DUI once the driver is released from the hospital.

The takeaway

This tragedy has underscored the need for ongoing education and prevention efforts around impaired driving, especially among teenagers. The Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District is committed to providing robust mental health support and resources to the grieving school community in the weeks and months ahead.