A fatal collision last night in Santa Rosa prompted an independent investigation by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office. The crash occurred at the intersection of Montgomery Drive and Farmers Lane, thrusting both vehicles onto the property of St. Eugene’s Cathedral. In an unfortunate turn of events, the driver of a silver Toyota Camry was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to a social media post from the Santa Rosa Police Department.
The incident began when Santa Rosa officers, conducting a DUI investigation, noticed a grey Nissan Maxima speeding through city streets at around 10:06 p.m. One officer pursued but lost sight of the vehicle for a time due to its reckless speed, eventually spotting it again on Montgomery Drive just before the devastating collision. The Santa Rosa Police relayed the details of the chase and the subsequent tragedy via their official Facebook page.
Aaron Rodriguez Hernandez, the 21-year-old Santa Rosa resident who was driving the Nissan Maxima, sustained moderate injuries and, after being treated at a local hospital, was booked into Sonoma County Jail. Hernandez faces charges including vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of drugs, resulting in injury. Furthermore, Hernandez was charged with driving without a license and a violation of probation, as reported by the Santa Rosa Police Department.
