Bicyclist Dead, Arrest Made In Corona Road Crash: Petaluma PD

PETALUMA, CA — A 65-year-old Petaluma man is accused of DUI and vehicular manslaughter in a collision Tuesday that killed a bicyclist at the Corona Road overpass at U.S. Highway 101 in Petaluma, police said.

The crash involving a white Honda Accord, a green Ford F-150 pickup truck and a bicyclist was reported at 9:28 a.m. on Corona Road near Industrial Avenue and resulted in the closure of the overpass in both directions for nearly seven hours.

"Officers arrived on scene and located the adult male bicyclist in the roadway near both of the involved vehicles and determined that the bicyclist deceased," Petaluma police Lt. Brian Miller said. "Both of the involved driver’s remained on scene and were contacted by officers."

The Petaluma Police Department advised of the crash at 9:50 a.m., saying in a Nixle alert that there would be no entry to the overpass from Petaluma Boulevard or from McDowell Boulevard.

As officers with Petaluma PD's Traffic Team spoke with the driver of the Honda, later identified as John Dethlefsen, 65, of Petaluma, they noted signs he had possibly been operating his vehicle while impaired, Miller said.

Traffic officers believe Dethlefsen was driving eastbound on Corona Road and as he approached the overpass, he crossed over the double yellow lines into the westbound lane.

"While in the oncoming lane of traffic the Honda appears to have struck the bicyclist," Miller said.

Investigators believe that after hitting the bicyclist, Dethlefsen kept driving the wrong way onto the overpass where he collided with the westbound Ford F-150 in the oncoming lane of traffic.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's coroner unit took custody of the bicyclist and was working to notify his next of kin prior to publicly released his name.

Neither driver reported suffering any injuries.

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene and is assisting with the investigation.

Dethlefsen was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter.

"It is unknown why the driver of the Honda was in the oncoming lane of travel," Miller said. "Toxicology results for the suspect are pending."

Dethlefsen remained in custody Wednesday morning in lieu of $100,000 bail pending a court appearance set for Thursday afternoon, according to Sonoma County sheriff's jail records.

Anyone with information regarding this collision is encouraged to contact Petaluma Police Traffic Officer Chris Ricci at 707-781-1275.