A driver was found dead yesterday after an SUV went over an embankment and into the Russian River along State Highway 1 near Jenner. Emergency crews rushed to the scene and recovered a body at or near the water while treating the shoreline as an active investigation area. Southbound Highway 1 traffic was blocked for a time as responders and tow operators worked to pull the vehicle out and clear the scene.
Crash Details and Emergency Response
According to the California Highway Patrol's Santa Rosa incident log, the crash was reported just before 1:40 PM, when a Lexus GS 470 left the roadway and ended up roughly 30 feet off the shoulder above the river, just south of Willig Drive. CHP officers and other responders located a body in or near the river and said they believe the person was the SUV's driver. The victim's identity had not been released as investigators continued their work. Tow crews were called in to retrieve the Lexus from the water and reopen the roadway, according to The Mercury News.
Jenner's Treacherous Riverfront
The coastal stretch around Jenner is notoriously narrow and steep, and the mouth of the Russian River has been the site of deadly crashes before. Local reporting documented a 2016 wreck that killed two young sisters after a pickup plunged into the river, as reported by The Press Democrat.
Investigation Still Unfolding
CHP-Santa Rosa investigators are leading the effort to determine why the SUV left the roadway and have not released any information about possible contributing factors. Officials are asking anyone who may have seen the crash or has related information to contact the Santa Rosa CHP office as the investigation moves forward, per The Mercury News.
