CHP Identifies Mom Who Crashed into River, Killing 2 Children

PETALUMA, CA — The California Highway Patrol has identified the female driver of the vehicle that overturned this morning in the Petaluma River Wednesday, killing two of her daughters as Alejandra Hernandez, 26, of Rohnert Park.

The Sonoma County coroner's office identified the deceased sisters as Delilah Gonzalez, 9 and Sayra Gonzalez, 7, also of Rohnert Park.

Hernandez was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Impala north on Petaluma Boulevard North at Gossage Avenue around 8 a.m. when the vehicle drifted onto the center dirt median, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Impala suddenly swerved back to the right, crossed all lanes and ran off the road. The car continued down a wooded embankment and struck trees before it overturned in the Petaluma River, the CHP said.

The car immediately sank and a witness found Hernandez standing on top of the car, the CHP said. Hernandez said there were children in the car but the witness was unable to get into the vehicle, according to the CHP.

Petaluma police officers and firefighters from the Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District tried to rescue the children. They were extricated and brought immediately to Petaluma Valley Hospital where they were
pronounced dead, the CHP said.

Hernandez, who was unlicensed, suffered minor injuries, according to the CHP.

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The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office's dive team helped recover the vehicle for evidence. The CHP said it is investigating why Hernandez lost control of the Impala.

Petaluma Boulevard North was closed for about six hours.

Two young Jenner girls, Hailey Markus, 4, and her sister Kaitlyn Markus, died last week when their mother's Ford F-250 truck drove off southbound state Route 1 and down an embankment into the Russian River.

• Also See: Officials Identify Sisters, 6 and 4, Who Died In Russian River Tragedy

In that Aug. 23 incident, their 32-year-old mother kicked out a window in the truck and tried to remove her daughters in the back seat but the truck sank quickly in 15 to 20 feet of water, according to the California

Highway Patrol.

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— Bay City News; Image via Renee Schiavone