Crime & Safety
Scooter Driver Critically Injured In Hwy 12, US 101 Hit-And-Run
The crash closed the eastbound state Highway 12 transition ramp and the No. 2 eastbound lane of U.S. Highway 101.
SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Santa Rosa man was found unconscious at the scene of a crash early Thursday at state Highway 12 and U.S. Highway 101 in Santa Rosa, the California Highway Patrol said.
Around 3:30 a.m. Thursday, a 51-year-old Santa Rosa man riding a 2006 JMStar 150cc scooter entered the freeway from the Dutton Road onramp and, according to a witness, tried to merge from the onramp into the No. 2 lane of eastbound U.S. Highway 101, the CHP said.
The scooter driver was going around 40 mph and was trying to make the lane change when he collided with a white Nissan pickup, either a Titan or a Frontier, CHP Office Marcus Hawkins said.
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"The scooter slid for approximately 100 feet during which [the scooter rider] was ejected," Hawkins said. "[The rider's] open face helmet came off and was located approximately 100 feet east of [him]."
The scooter came to rest blocking the No. 1 lane of the US-101 transition, and the rider came to rest in the No. 2 lane (farthest right lane) of SR-12 eastbound. The rider was unconscious at the scene, and was taken by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with critical injuries, Hawkins said.
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"The scooter had taped-on rear turn signals and rear brake lamp, in addition to several other makeshift repairs, and the registration was expired since 2009," Hawkins said.
The Nissan was last seen eastbound on SR-12 after the crash.
The SR-12 eastbound transition to US-101, and the SR-12 eastbound No. 2 lane were closed from 3:44 a.m. until 5:05 a.m.
"CHP is requesting the public's assistance in identifying the white Nissan pickup and its driver," Hawkins said. "The damage to the Nissan should be minor."
Hawkins said based on the statement from the witness, the Nissan driver did not appear to be at fault in the collision but California vehicle code 20002 requires all drivers involved in a collision with damage to immediately stop when it is safe to do so.
CHP asked anyone with information to call Officer Montgomery at the Santa Rosa Area CHP Office at 707-588-1400.
According to Hawkins, two other recent hit-and-runs in Sonoma County remain unsolved.
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