Woman Suffers Major Injuries In Crash Between VW Bus, Car: SRPD

SANTA ROSA, CA — A woman driving a Chevy Aveo suffered major injuries in a collision Tuesday morning with a Volkswagen bus, Santa Rosa police said. The crash happened at 7:43 a.m. at S. Wright Road and Price Avenue and resulted in a two-hour closure of the intersection, SRPD Sgt. Summer Gloeckner said in a news release.

The first officer at the scene reported a 2008 red Chevy Aveo and a 1970 blue Volkswagen bus were blocking the intersection in southwest Santa Rosa near Wright Elementary School.

"The female driver of the Chevy was unconscious," Gloeckner said. "The officer worked to keep her stable in the vehicle until paramedics arrived."

The driver of the Volkswagen was reportedly out of the bus and walking around when police arrived.

The Chevy driver, a 55-year-old resident of Santa Rosa, was immediately transferred to a local hospital with what appeared to be life-threatening injuries, Gloeckner said.

The VW driver, a 68-year-old man who lives in Graton, was not injured, according to police.

"He told officers that he had been traveling southbound on S. Wright, when the Chevy made a left turn from Price Avenue, right in front of him," Gloeckner said.

The VW driver told officers he did not have time to stop, and that he broadsided the Chevy, according to police.

An SRPD accident investigator responded to the scene.

Initial estimates indicated the VW driver was traveling below the 35 mph speed limit, according to police.

Once at the hospital, the injured woman's condition improved and it no longer appeared her injuries were life-threatening, Gloeckner said.

"... She did receive some head trauma from the collision that is being evaluated," Gloeckner said.

The accident remains under investigation; anyone with pertinent information can contact Officer Mike Mieger at 707-543-3636.