Driver Identified In Fatal Rohnert Park Crash

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A woman who died in a crash Wednesday in Rohnert Park was identified by the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office as Jane Ables, 78, of Rohnert Park.

Around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Ables was driving a black Mercedes-Benz sedan westbound on Golf Course Drive West when she tried to turn south onto Labath Avenue and collided with a white GMC utility truck that was traveling eastbound on Golf Course Drive West, the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety said.

"Based on the preliminary investigation, the Mercedes turned in front of the GMC, and the two vehicles collided in the intersection," Rohnert Park DPS Spokesperson J.P. Pritchard said in a news release. "When RPDPS arrived at the scene, they found the Mercedes on Golf Course Drive West and the GMC in the ravine on the north side of Golf Course Drive West. Both vehicles had significant front-end damage, and each vehicle was occupied by the drivers only."

RPDPS personnel quickly tended to the injured drivers and rendered life-saving measures to the driver of the Mercedes, Pritchard said.

The driver of the GMC suffered moderate injuries.

Ables, however, was pronounced dead at the scene.

This collision investigation was ongoing.

Alcohol and drugs were not suspected as factors.

Authorities asked anyone with information regarding the collision to call the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety at 707-584-2600 and refer to case number 22-5112.