Santa Rosa Man's Dog Survives Fatal Hwy 101 Crash

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The California Highway Patrol released more information Thursday about a crash Wednesday on U.S. Highway 101 near state Highway 12 that claimed the life of a Santa Rosa man. The driver of a 2006 Volkswagen Golf, identified by the Sonoma County coroner's office as Christopher Lawrence Hamilton, 35, of Santa Rosa, was traveling in the No. 4 lane around 3:35 a.m. and did not see a big rig that was stopped "mostly" on the right shoulder of northbound Highway 101, CHP Officer Jonathan Sloat said.

A 58-year-old Fort Bragg man had stopped his 2016 International tractor-trailer on the shoulder because of mechanical issues, Sloat said.

Hamilton's car crashed into the back of the big rig, Sloat said.

The Santa Rosa man was pronounced dead at the scene but his dog survived the crash, the officer said. It was not immediately clear whether the man's pet was reunited with surviving friends or family.

The Highway 101 crash is still under investigation, and anyone who saw it is asked to call the CHP's Santa Rosa office at 707-588-1400.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Image via Shutterstock