Cyclist Hospitalized In Guerneville Road Crash

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Bodega Bay cyclist suffered major injuries Monday night when he was struck by a car on Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa, California Highway Patrol officials said. Gregory Pinard, 67, was riding a Schwinn bicycle westbound on Guerneville, west of Abramson Road, when he was hit at about 10:45 a.m. by a 1999 Toyota RAV4 driven by a 55-year-old Santa Rosa woman, CHP Officer Jonathan Sloat stated in a news release.

The Toyota driver told responding CHP officers she did not see Pinard until he became illuminated in her headlights. She was unable to stop and struck the bicyclist from behind, Sloat said. Pinard was thrown backward off his bicycle and into her windshield before he landed on the roadway.

"Preliminary investigation suggests the bicyclist may have been on the white line or just over the white line on the shoulder," Sloat said, noting that the bicycle was equipped with a rear red reflector.

Pinard was rushed to Santa Rosa Memorial with major injuries but is expected to survive, according to Sloat.

The Toyota driver was not injured.

CHP is investigating the crash and is seeking witnesses.

The agency's preliminary investigation indicated neither drugs nor alcohol were factors in the collision.

Any witnesses or anyone with pertinent information is asked to call CHP at 707.588-1400.

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone