A tragic scene unfolded on Lakeville Highway at Pine View Way in Petaluma on Thursday when a devastating crash between an SUV and a sedan claimed the life of a woman and left a young man injured. According to the Petaluma Police Department, emergency crews responded around 12:37 pm to the accident that left a small SUV off the road with severe damage to the driver's side and an unresponsive 79-year-old woman inside, who was later pronounced dead at the scene. Petaluma Police Department reports that the sedan was stricken with significant damage to its front end in the eastbound lanes.
While attempting to treat the injured, emergency personnel discovered, with minor injuries only, the 22-year-old male driver of the sedan, who had been transported to a nearby hospital. The Petaluma Police have noted that the sedan's driver is fully cooperating with their ongoing investigation as they work to unravel the cause of the fatal event. Early assessments by authorities indicate no suspicion of drugs or alcohol being factors in the crash.
The Sonoma County Coroner’s Office is withholding the victim's name pending the grim task of family notification. As part of the continuing inquiry into the circumstances that culminated in this loss of life, the Police are urging anyone with details pertinent to the collision to step forward and share what they witnessed.
Traffic Officer Garrett Sholin is currently handling responses and collecting additional information from public sources and can be reached by email at [email protected], or those with information may dial 707-776-3721. Lieutenant Jeremy Walsh is the point of contact for media inquiries, reachable at [email protected] or by phone at 707-776-3743 as the community grapples with the aftermath of the sad tragedy on their streets.
