Sonoma Man Dies In 4-Vehicle Collision On Hwy 37

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- A Sonoma man has been identified as the victim in a fatal collision involving four vehicles Thursday on state Highway 37 in Novato.

Arthur Lloyd Deleray, 81, of Sonoma, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred just after 3 p.m. on eastbound Highway 37, east of Atherton Avenue, the Marin County coroner's office reported Friday.

Deleray was a passenger in a Lexus sedan that was stopped at the rear of a line of traffic in the fast lane between the Atherton Avenue off-ramp and on-ramp, California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay said.

The driver of a Ford F-150 pickup saw the stopped traffic and tried to brake to avoid a collision but struck the right rear of the Lexus, Barclay said.

The collision forced the Lexus into the rear of the two vehicles ahead of it causing all the vehicles to come to rest blocking all lanes of the highway, Barclay said.

First responders found Deleray unresponsive inside the vehicle. Despite efforts by paramedics, he died of his injuries.

The Lexus driver suffered major injuries and was taken by a CHP helicopter to a local trauma center, Barclay said.

A right front passenger in the third involved vehicle suffered minor injuries, the drivers of the third and fourth vehicles were not taken to a hospital, and the driver of the Ford F-150 truck was treated by paramedics but was not taken to a hospital, Barclay said.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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