A 27-year-old Santa Rosa man riding a skateboard suffered significant injuries Tuesday afternoon when he rode into the path of a southbound SUV at the intersection of Marlow Road and Guerneville Road. He was taken to a local hospital and remained under medical care as of Wednesday morning.
According to the Santa Rosa Police Department, the man entered the crosswalk westbound and rode his skateboard into the path of a gray Toyota Highlander that was traveling southbound on Marlow Road approaching the intersection. The Highlander was driven by a 36-year-old Santa Rosa woman, police said. Northbound and southbound traffic on Marlow Road had green signals at the time of the collision, according to the department.
The Press Democrat reported the crash was called in around 2:30 p.m. and that the rider was expected to survive, according to police. The same report noted that all lanes at the intersection reopened after nearly two hours, as southbound Marlow Road traffic through the area was heavily impacted while officers worked the scene.
Driver Stayed Put, Cooperated With Investigators
The Highlander's driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, police said. Investigators said alcohol or drugs were not believed to be a factor in the crash.
The circumstances of how the rider entered traffic remain under investigation. Santa Rosa police are asking any witnesses or anyone with video of the collision to contact accident investigator Brenden Sawyer.
A Familiar Intersection, A Recurring Hazard
This isn't the first serious wreck at Marlow and Guerneville roads. A 2009 crash at the same intersection left six people injured, according to a previous Press Democrat report.
Anyone with information about the collision is urged to reach out to the department's accident investigator as the case continues to develop.
