He also was off the air for much of last summer following a now-infamous May 30, 2021 newscast, when he repeatedly slurred and stumbled over his words and appeared to have trouble reading off the teleprompter. From 3 to his first newscast at 5 p.m., hes going over scripts. As a result of the crash, Frank was arrested for driving while intoxicated on December 30, 2021. The crash occurred just after 7:45 p.m., near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Broadway, police said. Somerville was let go after he was twice suspended from anchoring duties in 2021 and after he was arrested on Dec. 30 in Oakland on suspicion of driving under the Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 11 p.m. The veteran Bay Area newsman, whose awful year culminated in drunkenly slamming his Porsche into another vehicle on Dec. 30, sat down with San Francisco outlet KRON4 to speak for nearly 30 minutes about the months leading up to the crash. It all came to a head when I got the DUI, he said. In September, he told this news organization that he anticipated his days anchoring at KTVU were over after he was suspended in September for an off-air dispute about the coverage of the Gabby Petito case. Because Mr. Somervilles case is pending, he cannot personally comment at this time, but he takes full responsibility for what happened that night.. Someone, who I assume to be the S4 driver, takes a series of photos on his smartphone, probably for insurance purposes. Veteran anchor Frank Somerville returned to the KTVU anchor desk Wednesday, after a long absence. Off Camera article: Day in the Life: Frank Somerville The crash happened at the intersection of Broadway and Grand Avenue in Oakland. It all depends on a station hiring me, which requires a station taking a chance on me, he told the Chronicle. Longtime KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was arrested in Oakland on suspicion of driving under the influence. Somerville, who has a Black daughter, wanted to add a 46-second tag to an update on the Petito story that recognized the racially disproportionate media coverage of Black and white crime victims. Frank Somerville Donna and I encourage each other at the gym, to keep pushing. Its always very aggressive, and its what krav maga prides itself on being. OAKLAND The Alameda County District Attorneys Office has filed two misdemeanor charges against former KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville in connection with his arrest late last year on suspicion of driving under the influence, authorities said. For Somerville, heres his formula to get the day going. Gone are the days of waking up at 3 a.m. to work the dawn patrol. Somervilles next hearing will take place May 6. It was just a really sad time, and so I gotI got trashed. Frank Somerville 1991present. He always struck me as a pompous type of guy, always grandstanding on social media and TV. Woman killed, man injured in Oakland shootings I still, to this day, am not sure why.. Going to the gym also means some together time for Somerville and his wife. Its all about self-defense, Somerville says. He says it also helps him to come up with ideas for social media. News Anchor Frank Somerville Says He Was Trashed on DUI Taco Bell Run, This Is Make or Break Time for Desperate Vladimir Putin, Head of Mexican migration authority charged over deadly Juarez fire, Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket, King Charles settles into life as monarch, after long wait, Chinas peace envoy to Ukraine has close ties to Russia. Its a work in progress, he added. He also was off the air for much of the summer following a now-infamous May 30 newscast, when he repeatedly slurred and stumbled over his words and appeared to have trouble reading off the teleprompter. Oakland: News anchor Frank Somerville arrested after DUI wreck Without a doubt. People get to see me for who I am and what Im all about. In a Facebook post reflecting on the situation more than a year later, Somerville claimed for the first time that as messed up as I was I didnt drink on the air. Instead, he said, hed accidentally taken two powerful sleeping pills. I love feeling the acceleration. He covers crime, public safety and the biggest stories of the day for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. Driver allegedly hit by Frank Somerville says TV anchor floored Concord: Man killed in 4:30 a.m. solo crash on I-680, Berkeley to spend quarter-million for first 24-hour public bathroom, Tucker Carlson: How early rejection by hippie San Francisco mom made him shameless, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. He is on Twitter. I was close to as comatose as you can be, he said. KTVU (19912021) Frank Somerville (born March 19, 1958) is an American television journalist. But for some reason, I was suspended over that. I strictly go over the scripts, and I will make suggestions, he says. What does that mean for Calif.? Sign up for Yahoo Lifes daily newsletter, Katherine Heigl opens up about body image, Menopausal symptoms from hot flashes to insomnia are negatively impacting women's careers and the economy, says new study. One of the most modest, most humble human beings I know, Somerville is dead serious. Bay Area TV anchor Frank Somerville arrested on, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Bay Area TV anchor Frank Somerville arrested on suspicion of DUI after crash in Oakland, Fremont: Hit-and-run collision suspect taken into custody, Person robbed at bus stop near UC Berkeley campus, Woman killed, man injured in Oakland shootings, Santa Rita Jail inmate dies after being found sick in his cell, East Bay carjacking suspect adds to long list of trouble with second arrest in two days. Thanks to Steph Currys 50-point day, Warriors beat the Kings in Game 7 to advance. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Courtesy KTVU. He has been taking many steps to address the circumstances that led to this case, including attending meetings and working on himself so that nothing like this ever happens again, Dugan said. He graduated from Cal State Chico with a BA degree in Information and Communications Studies with a journalism emphasis. San Mateo, CA 94403-5007. Story and Photographs Livestream 2021 Emmy Awards & Zoom Party, Livestream 2020 Emmy Awards & Zoom Party, Webcast 2019 Emmy Awards Stage & Red Carpet, Webcast 2018 Emmy Awards Stage & Red Carpet, Webcast 2017 Emmy Awards Stage & Red Carpet, BECA NATAS Media Meld A Big Success on So Many Levels, Next TV Summit 12/1/15 Judith Morgan Center, SF, Next TV Summit, June 16, 2016, Hyatt Regency SF, High School Student Production Awards Press Releases. Frank Somerville KTVU, Bio, Wiki My whole objective is to know whats going on and being up to speed. Please realize that what I did by not asking for help made it even worse.'". The veteran Bay Area newsman, whose awful year culminated in drunkenly slamming his Porsche into another vehicle on Dec. 30, sat down with San Francisco outlet KRON4 to speak for nearly 30 minutes about the months leading up to the crash. I thought the coverage across the country of Gabby Petito was insane, he told KRON4. In a KRON interview with Pam Moore that aired last night, Somerville spoke for nearly 30 minutes about his career and substance abuse. Somerville was driving a 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S, a twin-turbocharged Porsche with 552 HP capable of a 0-60 MPH under three seconds and a top speed of 198 MPH. Two of the most widely circulated witness videos are provided below. In the first video from KRON4, we can see Somervilles Porsche 911 pushing an Audi S4 towards the intersections corner. Possible gas explosion badly damages SF home, victim hospitalized, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Officers who spoke with Somerville said he exhibited symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage: bloodshot/watery eyes, thick/slurred speech, and odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person.. Somerville is a longtime anchor at KTVU, owned by Fox, but he has not appeared on-air in several months. On this particular morning, Somerville wraps up reading the papers and How I even made it home that night is beyond me, he wrote. But in September, he was suspended indefinitely after disagreeing with the station bosses about how to cover the Gabby Petito murder, which was then a missing-person case. This Walking Pad treadmill made getting 10,000 steps a Dyson's air purifying headphones have finally arrived, This mysterious Bay Area beach is covered in broken ceramics. I didnt see them at all over the holidays. 8 p.m. It was a claim he reiterated on Wednesday in his KRON4 interview. And that Im going to do all I can do to defend myself and not be a victim. After exiting the vehicle, Somerville proceeds to give it some gas, pushing the other drivers Audi even further. Bay Area TV anchor Frank Somerville arrested on suspicion of DUI Its a work in progress, he added. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Following a car crash late last December, embattled Bay Areareporter Frank Somerville now faces two DUI charges. I was close to as comatose as you can be, he said. There was no reason for it other than she was a cute white kid. KTVUs Frank Somerville DUI Car Crash In Downtown For a while, his fate seemed suspended, but in November, Somerville told the Bay Area News Group that he was never going to anchor at KTVU again. "But what I really want people to take out of this, I hope, is that they can see that I'm just like them. His contract with the station expired in 2022. From 3 to his first newscast at 5 p.m., hes going over scripts. I am also looking for story ideas when Im at my desk. Frank Somerville The San Jose Mercury News said multiple police and media sources confirmed Somerville was the one arrested after a Porsche allegedly driven by Somerville rear ended another car around 7:45 p.m. Actually, hes not. But, after a workout, I feel great. Somerville eventually worked a split schedule so that he could anchor the morning show, then return in the afternoon to anchor the stations 5 p.m. newscast. The man is popular. His contract with the station expired in 2022. Video NBC Bay Area obtained shows what sources say was Somerville's Porsche crashing into another vehicle from behind and pushing it off the street. Crime and Public Safety | WebOccupation (s) Journalist and news anchor. I have to care about it. Television. Frank Somerville Crime and Public Safety | He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, booked into Santa Rita Jail on that charge and later released with a citation to appear. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Mike Mibach officially replaces Frank Somerville at KTVU Frank Somerville had a rough 2021and hes finally ready to talk about it on camera. Yeah, I made a lot of money, yeah, I had a big job, but yet I still failed at that. Think this is an AE86? Bay Area News Anchor Frank Somerville Arrested on DUI 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I love seeing it, and hearing it., Kevin Wingis a San Francisco-based producer for ABC News Good Morning America. Somerville has more Facebook followers than some television stations. https://t.co/LPhWcLtvzF pic.twitter.com/JQKekShtaJ, The anchor said that hed spent much of the evening drinking himself into a near-stupor. Years active. That would be disingenuous.| His first 16 years at the station revolved around an early morning schedule, when he co-anchored Mornings On 2. Then in September, Somerville was suspended for wanting to add a tag to a Gabby Petito story highlighting the disparity between missing white people and people of color. "But, because I live so close to work, I will take And then, I checked our krav and found out how much more practical it is. The Alameda County District Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE. KTVUs Frank Somerville DUI Car Crash In Downtown Oakland - Videos Where His Porsche Pushes A Car Zennie62 YouTube Live Oakland News NFL CES News Anchor Frank Somerville Says He Was Trashed on DUI Nothing has changed. New Off Camera series:This is the first in a recurring Off Camera series we call Day in the Life. It could be a news producer, a photographer, a news director, or a reporter. Longtime KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville There's no other way to say it, I got trashed in my apartment.". George Kelly is a breaking news reporter for the Bay Area News Group's East Bay Times and Mercury News. After more than two months of what a spokesperson for his parent network called medical leave, a period which Somerville said he spent in a rehabilitation facility, he was back on the air. 3 p.m. "It all came to a head when I got the DUI," Somerville said. The driver of the Audi stepped out before Somerville pushed the vehicle across the intersection with his car before ramming it into a light pole, according to documents provided to SFGATE by the district attorneys office. Hes burning rubber.. He is still the same as he was back in 1992, when we first met at KTVU. I was taking what I thought was one of my prescription drugs; instead, it was two Ambien, he said. Hes ready to go home, but first, hell take a few minutes to finish answering a few emails. According to the police report, Somerville rear-ended an Audi, which was stopped facing eastbound in the second lane of West Grand Ave at Broadway. Kevin@KevinWingABC, 4317 Camden Avenue If I dont care about it, what am I posting it for? Somerville said that he was drinking almost every night, citing sadness and loneliness over his divorce. I have to care about something to write about it. 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Veteran Bay Area television news anchor Frank Somerville said he was trashed when he crashed his Porsche into another driver in 2021, but denied he was I had absolutely no business at all to driveat all, he told KRON4, adding later that he wishes he could apologize to the other driver, who was slightly injured in the crash. It was just a really sad time, and so I got I got trashed. Frank Somerville had a rough 2021and hes finally ready to talk about it on camera. Wrote the Book. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tiremeetsroad_com-box-4','ezslot_9',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tiremeetsroad_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'tiremeetsroad_com-box-4','ezslot_10',109,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-tiremeetsroad_com-box-4-0_1');.box-4-multi-109{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Longtime KTVU anchor Frank Somerville is facing two DUI charges following a car accident on Dec. 30, 2021. https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/frank-s-crash/237476/, Previous dui driver killer kills again in another dui related crash this time her own cousin, DSNY employee arrested for DUI after crash, KTVU vid of brazen hold up at El Cerrito Little Caesar's store, Singer Bobby Brown Arrested On Suspicion Of DUI. Finally, it's time for Somerville to head home, in his 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo. Frank Somerville had a rough 2021and hes finally ready to talk about it on camera. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Her husband got started about 10 years ago. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com. You have entered an incorrect email address! He is a graduate of Bowie State University in Maryland with a BS degree in communications. Noon I was so sad and lonely from the divorce and missing my kids and the pandemic sure as hell didnt help because now, I was all alone, he said. 1:30 p.m. Opinion: How could the As ungrateful owner do this to us? Email: joshua.bote@sfgate.com and Signal: 707-742-3756, Frank Somerville now faces 2 DUI charges after car crash in 2021, Dubs fans picking apart video of possible Poole-Draymond incident, Bay Area preschool teacher suspected of dumping body along road, Bay Area mom influencer found guilty of lying about kidnapping, 'Horrible': Oakland rapper dumps on Chase Center Warriors fans, More rain, 'unseasonably chilly' temperatures coming to Bay Area, Destructive landslide closes historic California institution, 49ers out in full force at Warriors-Kings Game 7, Sold-out Berkeley crowd gets rowdy at country star's concert, Shock, fear as 2 killings in 3 days rock quiet Davis. Multiple news stations report former KTVU TV news anchor Frank Somerville was involved in a crash earlier late Thursday night. Hell do it Video from the scene uploaded by KRON showed the car that ran into the other one was a Porsche. So, whats an average day like for the multi-Emmy Award-winning Somerville? Theres no other way to say it, I got trashed in my apartment.. After the collision, the Audis driver managed to get out of their car, according to the statement, but Somerville kept driving east on West Grand, pushing the Audi across the intersectionuntil it hit a pole on the southwest corner. Veteran Bay Area television news anchor Frank Somerville said he was trashed when he crashed his Porsche into another driver in 2021, but denied he was drunk on another occasion when he slurred his words on air. You cant fake caring. Now, it's revered. Somerville arrives at the stations Jack London Square studios. The anchor went on to acknowledge long-standing issues with substance abuse, saying hed used drugs and alcohol almost every night at the height of his addiction. Staff writers Harry Harris and Rick Hurd contributed to this report. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. It was Christmastime, he said. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The veteran Bay Area newsman, whose awful year culminated in drunkenly I was so sad and lonely from the divorce and missing my kids and the pandemic sure as hell didnt help because now, I was all alone, he said. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. OAKLAND One-time KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of driving under the influence following a crash in downtown Oakland, authorities said. Somerville was hospitalized shortly after the incident and was booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. For breakfast? Shes usually out the door by 8:30 a.m. Driver allegedly hit by Frank Somerville says TV anchor floored ContactGeorge Kelly at 408-859-5180. Frank Somerville It was Christmastime, he said. Sign up now. Veteran anchor back on air after abrupt departure and 9-week absence. And, practically all of the time, he is writing about something engaging and certainly interesting, as opposed to, say, taking a snapshot of his breakfast or lunch, or posting selfies. Oakland Bike Shop Offers Free E-Bike Test Rides, French Bulldog Stolen From Car in Oakland, 4 Stabbed, 1 in Critical Condition Following Fight in San Jose: Police, 1 Shot During Gunfight in Oakland: Police, Steph Curry's 50-Point Game 7 Explosion Vs. Kings Lights Up NBA Twitter. What? Veteran Bay Area television news anchor Frank Somerville said he was trashed when he crashed his Porsche into another driver in 2021, but denied he was dr. Disgraced Bay Area anchor denies he was drunk on the air but confesses he was "trashed" during 2021 DUI. Ive always thought the 911 turbo is one of the most beautiful cars ever. Somerville says. I was away from my family. "It was Christmastime. For a while, his fate seemed suspended, but in November, Somerville told the Bay Area News Group that he was never going to anchor at KTVU again. Frank Somerville So what I would say to people is, 'Please don't make that same mistake that I made. There was no reason for it other than she was a cute white kid. By George Kelly | gkelly@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group OAKLAND The Alameda County District Attorneys Office has filed two misdemeanor charges against former KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville in connection with his arrest late last year on suspicion of driving under the influence, authorities said. posting on Facebook and heads to Gods Gym, where he works out three times a week with a few others (myself included) and with a personal trainer,Gary Shields. On Tuesday, the district attorneys office charged Somerville with driving under the influence of alcohol, as well as driving with a blood-alcohol level over .08, with an added clause for having a level over .15. In a shocking This is a developing story. Tweet He stated that after going on leave, he went to rehab, but continued alcohol use. KTVU Channel 2 anchor Frank Somerville at his house in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday June 16, 2009. I am not doing it just for the fun of it. Somerville is a well-known face in the Bay Area, having begun broadcasting on his longtime station KTVU in 1992, ascending to become a co-anchor by 2008. Remember those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? News anchor Frank Somerville says he was 'trashed' Steph Curry killed off the Kings with a smile, On an island of resorts, this Hawaii hotel is the budget option, two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol. Getting people to feel. Whats for breakfast? I love driving, he says. The station wanted us to be on Facebook, so I am always looking for ideas to write about, he says. East Bay carjacking suspect adds to long list of trouble with second arrest in two days Somerville has had problems with alcohol in the past. During the preliminary investigation, officers determined that Somerville was driving under the influence, police said. There is no time for chit chat. She works out, too. Rick Hurd has been a breaking news reporter for the Bay Area News Group since 2011. I am very particular about what I post. I do it because I care. Reno officials think 'Big Melt' could be a water rescue disaster, The easiest, most eye-popping hike on the California coast.