Coroner IDs Driver Killed In Porter Creek Road Head-On Collision

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Lake County woman was identified as the driver who died in a head-on collision Saturday night on Porter Creek Road.

Kate Tillman, 30, of Cobb, was driving a Ford Fusion westbound on Porter Creek Road, near Franz Valley Road, when she drifted into the opposite lane, directly into the path of travel of a Toyota Highlander, the California Highway Patrol said.

A Calistoga woman was driving the Toyota eastbound with five children ages 8-12 in the car and had no space or time to maneuver to avoid a collision, CHP Officer David deRutte said.

The two cars stopped in the eastbound lane facing each other, deRutte said.

Tillman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Toyota driver and all five children were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor to moderate injuries.

An investigation of the fatal incident was ongoing early this week; the CHP asked anyone with information regarding the crash to call the Santa Rosa CHP Office at 707-588-1400.