Deer Caused Sebastopol Crash That Killed Woman, 25

A 25-year-old woman was killed and two men were hurt when their Honda smashed into a tree north of Sebastopol late Wednesday night as they swerved to avoid a deer, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Karen Bernal Mercado of Santa Rosa was riding in the Honda on Occidental Road at 11:50 p.m., on her way to work with a 30-year-old man who was driving and a 25-year-old man in the front passenger seat, according to the CHP and the Sonoma County coroner’s office.

[Previous: Fatal Accident Reported Wednesday Night in Sebastopol.]

A deer ran in front of the car near High School Road and the driver swerved to avoid it but lost control of the 1997 Honda Accord, which hit a guardrail and then a tree, CHP officials said.

Mercado was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown to the left side of the back seat and pinned by the roof of the car as it collapsed.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the CHP.

The driver and front passenger got themselves out of the vehicle and were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

The CHP closed the westbound lane of Occidental Road for more than two hours during the investigation.

--Bay City News