2 Bicyclists Hit By DUI Driver Near Sebastopol: CHP

SONOMA COUNTY, CA —A Sebastopol man is suspected of drunken driving Wednesday night near Sebastopol when he hit two bicyclists with his pickup truck, the California Highway Patrol said.

The driver and both bicyclists — a 12-year-old boy and a man in his 50s who did not know each other — all suffered major injuries and were treated at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, CHP Officer David deRutte said.

CHP officers responded around 6 p.m. Wednesday to the crash site on High School Road south of Gaye Road.

Officers determined that Ulises Valdez of Sebastopol was driving northbound on High School Road, approaching the bicyclists, when he lost control of his Ram Rebel pickup truck and collided with the 12-year-old on the shoulder, deRutte said.

"Valdez was driving at a high speed and lost control on a left curve in the roadway," deRutte said.

After hitting the boy, the out-of-control truck went back onto the roadway, then back onto the right shoulder where Valdez collided with the second bicyclist, deRutte said.

"The Ram then went off the roadway and collided with a utility pole and a tree," deRutte said. "Valdez and both bicyclists were transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries."

Valdez was found to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI, deRutte said.

CHP asked anyone who witnessed the collision or the events leading up to it to call the Santa Rosa CHP office at 707-588-1400.