Driver Dies In 3-Car Crash On River Road: CHP

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A woman died Wednesday afternoon when her car was struck head-on in a multiple-vehicle collision Wednesday afternoon on River Road west of Santa Rosa near Martinelli Winery & Vineyards, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash occurred at about 1:20 p.m. east of Olivet Road and involved a silver Hyundai Santa Fe SUV driven by a 72-year-old Santa Rosa man, a white Ford Ranger pickup truck driven by a 61-year-old Healdsburg man and a white Honda CRV SUV, said CHP Officer David deRutte.

CHP's preliminary investigation, deRutte said, revealed the Hyundai was traveling in the eastbound lane and the Ford and Honda were traveling in the westbound lane when the Hyundai driver "made a turning movement to the left and drove into the westbound lane."

The Hyundai collided with the left side of the Ford, which came to rest on the right shoulder following the collision. The Hyundai continued traveling eastbound in the westbound lane, where it collided with the left front of the Honda, deRutte said.

Both SUVs came to rest following the crash.

The driver of the Honda, a female whose name was not disclosed Wednesday night, was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the CHP.

The Hyundai driver and a female passenger of the Hyundai were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor to moderate injuries, deRutte said.

The Ford driver was checked for injuries at the scene and was not transported to a hospital, according to the CHP.

River Road was closed between Olivet and Martinelli Winery as the collision was investigated, deRutte told Patch.

At 4:45 p.m., the roadway was reopened to through traffic.

The crash remained under investigation Wednesday night.

Neither alcohol nor drugs were immediately believed to be factors, according to deRutte.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.