U.S. 101 Clear In Healdsburg Following Fatal Crash

HEALDSBURG, CA — All lanes of northbound U.S. Highway 101 in Healdsburg are now clear after a fatal collision early Wednesday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP said the collision occurred around 2:15 a.m. Wednesday and was on the freeway just north of Dry Creek Road.

The crash happened as a 58-year-old Richmond man stopped his tractor-trailer combination in the northbound No. 1 lane due to a traffic break ahead being conducted by a construction vehicle, CHP Officer Jonathan Sloat said in a news release.

"At the time of this collision the No. 2 lane was closed for construction, delineated by orange traffic cones and signage," Sloat said. "For reasons still under investigation, the driver of a 2001 Chevy Tahoe, a male, 36, failed to stop and drove into the rear of the tractor/trailer combination."

Due to construction that already closed one lane of the freeway, all lanes northbound were blocked by the collision.

The Tahoe driver and his female passenger were taken by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where the driver died from injuries suffered in the crash, Sloat said.

The driver will be publicly identified by the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office once his family members are properly notified.

The Richmond man was not injured in the crash, according to the CHP.

CHP has not yet been able to speak to the female passenger due to her injuries, Sloat said.

The roadway was cleared at 5:26 a.m., per the CHP.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision was asked to call the CHP at 707-588-1400.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Image via Patch