7 People, 5 Children, Injured in Accident Off Highway 101

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A two-vehicle crash Thursday morning injured seven people, including five children – one of whom needed to be airlifted to an Oakland hospital when a truck and sport utility vehicle collided on the southbound River Road exit to Highway 101 just north of Santa Rosa, police said.

A CHP spokesman said that it appears a Ford Expedition in one of the onramp lines was struck by a Goodwill truck that was also entering the highway about 9:45 a.m.. The driver of the truck was attempting to make room for another vehicle and lost control of his truck and collided with the SUV. Both vehicles ended up in the vegetation to the right of the highway. The SUV overturned and injured the driver and five children. The driver of the truck was also injured, police said.

Both drivers and two of the children were taken to local hospitals with a variety of injuries. One girl, who was believed to be between the ages of 8-10, was taken by helicopter to Oakland Children’s Hospital while two were flown to UC Davis Hospital.

The River Road exit to the highway was closed following the accident, but reopened just after soon. The accident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Rosa CHP office.