Motorcyclist Injured In Santa Rosa Crash After Evading Officers, Police Say

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Police were planning to seek charges against a Forestville man after he allegedly evaded officers Tuesday in Santa Rosa while riding his Harley-Davidson at speeds up to 100 mph, eventually crashing into a motorist near a shopping center. The collision involving motorcyclist Lance Edwin Evan, 33, happened mid-Tuesday morning on Guerneville Road at Fulton Road, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Summer Black said.

Evan had to be rushed to a hospital, where it was determined he suffered a broken pelvis and broken wrist in the collision with a Chevrolet Blazer, Black said.

The crash happened not long after two Santa Rosa motorcycle officers had attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a 2005 Harley-Davidson rider — later identified as Evan — they had spotted at 9:40 a.m. traveling eastbound on Guerneville Road, allegedly at speeds near 80 mph, Black said.

However, because of heavy traffic they lost sight of him, the sergeant said.

Several minutes later, the officers again saw Evan traveling approximately 80 mph; this time, heading westbound on Guerneville, Black said. One of the officers decided to pursue Evan but started to lose sight of him near the intersection of Guerneville and Fulton roads, the sergeant said.

The officer watched as Evan proceeded through the intersection but for the safety of the public, Black said, started to back off as Evan allegedly sped up to approximately 100 mph.

Once across the intersection, Evan — now believed to be traveling around 80 mph — collided with the right rear passenger side of the Blazer, which Black said had been stopped in the eastbound left-turn lane but had begun making a left turn into a shopping center at the northwest corner of the intersection.

Evan was ejected from his motorcycle immediately upon impact with the Chevy. Responding paramedics rushed him to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with what were initially thought to be life-threatening injuries. At the hospital, Evan was stabilized and was expected to survive, Black said.

Meanwhile, Santa Rosa police determined Evan has prior convictions for felony vehicle evading and DUI, and that he is on post-release community supervision probation.

"Felony charges of evading and other related charges will follow his release from medical treatment," Black said.

The driver and passenger of the Chevy were treated at the scene for minor injuries and released.

An investigation of the incident was continuing Tuesday; anyone with pertinent information was encouraged to contact Santa Rosa police Officer Ferrigno at 707-543-3600.

Photos via Santa Rosa Police Department