1 Dead In Head-On Collision On Highway 12 In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — One person died and two people were injured in a head-on collision Monday on state Highway 12 near Glen Ellen, the California Highway Patrol said.

The crash was reported at 2:34 p.m. on SR-12, east of Nuns Canyon Road. Emergency personnel found the driver of a Subaru Outback suffering from fatal injuries, CHP Spokesperson David deRutte said.

The CHP's preliminary investigation indicated a 66-year-old man from Sonoma was driving a Mercedes-Benz sedan eastbound on SR-12 and a 64-year-old man from Santa Rosa was driving the Outback westbound on SR-12.

"For unknown reasons at this time, the Mercedes drifted left into the opposing lane, directly in front of the Subaru," deRutte said. "The Mercedes crashed head-on with the Subaru, causing the Subaru to overturn onto its roof."

The driver of the Subaru was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 39-year-old man who was riding in the front passenger seat of the Subaru was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of major but not life-threatening injuries, the CHP said.

The driver of the Mercedes suffered major injuries and was also taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

There were no passengers in the Mercedes and only one passenger in the Subaru.

SR-12 was closed between Arnold Drive and Dunbar Road during the investigation.

The Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office was expected to release the Subaru driver's name once his next of kin were properly notified.

The CHP asked anyone with information regarding the crash to contact the Santa Rosa CHP Office at 707-588-1400.