Sonoma County Coroner Identifies Man Found Dead Near Wrecked Car

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office has identified a driver whose body was found Sunday afternoon near his wrecked car on a rural property northwest of Santa Rosa.

The body of Shawn Hart, 49, of Santa Rosa was discovered just before 4:30 p.m. Sunday by the owner of a property on River Road, just west of Trenton-Healdsburg Road, the California Highway Patrol said.

When the property owner saw a damaged mailbox, he investigated further and found a wrecked gray Hyundai.

Hart's body was lying nearby, CHP Officer David deRutte said.

As previously reported, CHP determined the crash happened several hours earlier but was not immediately discovered because the Hyundai was not visible from River Road or from the property.

"For unknown reasons at this time, the Hyundai drove off the north side of River Rd. The Hyundai collided with the mailbox and continued down an embankment where it collided with a tree," deRutte said.

Hart was not wearing a seat belt, and was thrown from the car, deRutte said.

The Hyundai continued down the embankment where it crashed into a second tree and came to a stop.

"This crash remains under investigation including whether the driver was under the influence," deRutte said Monday. "If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please call the Santa Rosa CHP office at (707) 588-1400."