Woman arrested for felony drunk driving

A 55-year-old Niland woman was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly driving an off-road vehicle while under the influence and causing major injury to her passenger.

Sherri A. Sikorski was taken into custody at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday on Hot Mineral Spa Road near the Fountain of Youth RV Resort by California Highway Patrol officers and booked into county jail on suspicion of felony drunk driving and DUI causing bodily injury, county Sheriff’s Office arrest records stated.

Sikorski was held on a $50,000 bail for the two alleged offenses, arrest records stated.

According to a CHP news release, Sikorski and her passenger, 58-year-old Niland resident Craig Bashford, were riding a Polaris off-road vehicle southwest in the direction of Hot Mineral Spa.

While driving, Bashford fell out of the passenger compartment and sustained major injuries to his head, face and neck.

Sikorski eventually stopped the vehicle and assisted Bashford, who was subsequently flown to Desert Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.

Once CHP officers arrived on scene, Sikorski was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

Neither Sikorski nor Bashford was wearing a helmet or seat belt at the time of the incident.