Petaluma father charged in boy's roadside death

PETALUMA -- A Petaluma man faces criminal charges after a birthday outing led to the roadside death of his daughter's 13-year-old friend.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat (http://bit.ly/YX5IOJ ) reports that 41-year-old Mike Krnaich was charged Monday with two counts of felony child endangerment in the June 15 accident that resulted in the death of Trevor Smith.

The accident occurred when Krnaich was taking his daughter and some friends on a trip to Lake Mendocino, and his pickup truck ran out of fuel on Highway 101.

The California Highway Patrol says Smith and another boy jumped out to push the truck, and Smith got run over by the trailer the truck was pulling. He died at the scene.

Prosecutors say Krnaich could face more than seven years in prison if convicted.