1 Dead, 2 Injured In 5-Car Collision On U.S. 101 In Healdsburg

HEALDSBURG, CA — One person died and two people were injured Monday in a five-car collision on U.S. Highway 101 in Healdsburg.

The fatal crash was reported at 1 p.m. on southbound 101 just between the freeway on- and off-ramps at Healdsburg Avenue and Old Redwood Highway, and prompted a Sig-alert for the roadway until 5 p.m.

Emergency personnel with the California Highway Patrol, Healdsburg Police Department and Sonoma County Fire responded.

The preliminary crash investigation indicated a 47-year-old Santa Rosa man was driving a Dodge pickup truck southbound through Healdsburg on U.S. 1o1 at a speed that was unsafe for conditions as traffic ahead was slowing for roadway construction, CHP Officer David deRutte said.

"The roadway construction was further south from the crash location and both southbound lanes were open at the time," deRutte said. "The Dodge didn’t slow while approaching slower moving vehicles and collided with a white Subaru and a black Hyundai Tucson."

The crash caused major rear-end damage to the black Hyundai SUV, which was pushed out of control to the right where it hit a guardrail. The Hyundai SUV then veered back into the lanes of traffic where it collided with a Chevrolet pickup, deRutte said.

There were three female occupants in the black Hyundai SUV; the one in the back seat was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:38 p.m. The Sonoma County Coroner's Office was expected to release her identity once her family members were properly notified.

The driver and the front passenger of the black Hyundai were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor to moderate injuries.

The Dodge pushed the Subaru to the right into a blue Hyundai.

"It appears the black Hyundai, the Subaru, the blue Hyundai, and the Chevrolet pickup were driving with the pace of traffic which was slowing for a construction zone ahead," deRutte said.

The Dodge driver cooperated with the investigation, then was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

"There were no injuries reported by the other parties," deRutte said. "We do not believe drugs or alcohol played a factor in this crash."

At 1:42 p.m., all southbound lanes were blocked and there was not an estimated time for when the roadway would reopen, the CHP reported.

The Healdsburg Police Department said drivers should avoid southbound 101 at Old Redwood Highway because of the incident.

"Some roads closed," police said. "A vehicle crash has closed the freeway and will require a detour of traffic."

Traffic was diverted off to Healdsburg Avenue/Old Redwood Highway, then allowed to immediately renter the freeway.