1 Arrested In Fatal Crash On U.S. Highway 101 In Santa Rosa: CHP

SANTA ROSA, CA — Northbound U.S. Highway 101 in Santa Rosa reopened at about 3 a.m. Tuesday following a fatal traffic collision involving two vehicles and a motorcycle, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP Officer David deRutte said the chain-reaction collision was first reported around 11 p.m. Monday just south of Bicentennial Way when an Infinti SUV rear-ended a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The Harley rider, a 72-year-old Windsor man, stayed at the scene and was able to keep his bike upright until both vehicles came to a stop in the middle lane, about 250 feet farther than the point of impact, the officer said.

It was reported that the SUV driver and his male passenger both got out of the vehicle and were attempting to run from the scene when the passenger was fatally struck by a northbound Toyota Landcruiser SUV, deRutte said.

Sonoma County sheriff's helicopter crew responded and followed the driver— later identified as Juan Padilla-Lopez, 33, of Santa Rosa — as he ran to the Shell Gas Station at Steele Lane where he was detained by Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies, deRutte said.

According to the CHP, the driver of the Toyota Landcruiser, an 18-year-old Ukiah woman, was traveling northbound on U.S. 101 at Steele Lane when saw the collision ahead. She swerved to the right in attempt to go around the incident but was not able to avoid hitting the back right of the Infiniti, nor the Infiniti passenger who had just gotten out of the SUV on the right side, according to deRutte.

U.S.-101 northbound was closed until 3 a.m. while the crash scene was investigated.

The deceased man's identity will be released by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office once next of kin are properly notified.

Padilla-Lopez was arrested by CHP on suspicion of two felony charges: driving under the influence and hit and run, deRutte said.