Sonoma Motorcyclist Killed Thursday Night On Hwy 12

SONOMA COUNTY, CA - A motorcyclist was killed Thursday night in a crash on state Highway 12 in Santa Rosa, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.

Police said Brian Michael Johnson, 34, of Sonoma, was killed when he crashed his motorcycle on the highway at Calistoga Road at 7:42 p.m. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed Johnson was riding a black and green 2003 Kawasaki motorcycle south on Calistoga Road when he turned east onto state Highway 12 at a sharp angle and struck the center raised median dividing traffic on the highway, police said.

Police said Johnson was thrown from his motorcycle and ended up in an eastbound lane of the highway, where an oncoming vehicle struck him. The vehicle did not stop after hitting Johnson, according to police.

The vehicle is described as a white domestic mid-sized to large sport utility vehicle built around 2005 to 2008. The crash closed a portion of state Highway 12 until around 3:30 a.m. The highway has since been reopened.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is being asked to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department at (707) 543-3636.

--Bay City News