Santa Rosa Father, Son Identified In Fatal Sonoma County Jeep Crash

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Santa Rosa man and his son were identified by the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office as the victims in a fatal Jeep crash Monday in rural Sonoma County.

Matthew Sousa, 32, and Jason Sousa, 7, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash reported at 5:42 p.m. Monday at Happy Hills Hunting Club, near Mohrhardt Ridge Road and Happy Hills Ranch Road, according to coroner's officials and the California Highway Patrol.

Matthew Sousa was a 2008 graduate of Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa and attended Santa Rosa Junior College. He leaves behind his wife, Kendra Sousa, and two other sons, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by his sister, Kristy Sousa.

As of Thursday afternoon, more than $46,000 had been donated to Sousa Family Tragedy campaign on GoFundMe.

"It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we have to share the tragic and unimaginable passing of my brother Matthew and my nephew Jason Sousa on Monday December 19, 2022," Kristy Sousa wrote.

"With all of the emotional pain and stress that death brings, it can also bring financial burden.

"Matt's wife Kendra now faces the task of raising their two sons Joey and Mateus on her own. While we can't heal their hearts, we can help ease the financial burden as they navigate life without Matt and Jason.

"Please keep the Sousa Family in your thoughts and prayers and please share this page with your friends and family."

3 Others Injured

Santa Rosa CHP officers and Monte Rio Fire personnel responded at 5:42 p.m. Monday to crashes involving two separate Jeepson private property at the Happy Hills Hunting Club.

Response and rescue efforts by emergency personnel were hampered by difficult access and steep terrain on the property northwest of Cazadero.

According to the CHP's preliminary investigation, one of the Jeeps was driving down a dirt road and initially overturned down an embankment of some 300 feet into a ravine. Emergency personnel found the vehicle's driver, now identified as Matthew Sousa, and his passenger, now identified as Jason Sousa, suffering from fatal injuries.

A second Jeep, driven by a 49-year-old man and carrying two boys attempted to help the first, but also overturned down the embankment.

Emergency personnel extricated and transported the 49-year-old man to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

Two boys riding in the second Jeep were taken to the same hospital for treatment of minor to moderate injuries.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.