Published on April 13, 2005
© 2005- The Press Democrat
PAGE: B5
Two people were critically injured Tuesday night in a head-on crash that shut Highway 12 on the east edge of Santa Rosa, authorities said.
Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Doug Schlief said police were investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the 10:30 p.m. crash just east of Calistoga Road.
A witness called police to report a westbound pickup weaving on Highway 12 as it headed into Santa Rosa, he said.
Moments later, the witness called back to say the vehicle had crossed over a raised concrete median and slammed into an eastbound Volkswagen bus.
A man in the truck and a woman in the bus were the only occupants of the two vehicles.
Schlief said both of them were unconscious when emergency crews arrived. They were taken to area hospitals with critical injuries.
Police diverted eastbound traffic at Calistoga Road immediately after the crash.
The westbound lanes were closed about 90 minutes later so officers could investigate skid marks, Schlief said.
Westbound traffic was being diverted at St. Francis Drive.
It was unknown how long the road would remain closed.
04/13/05 5:30 PDT
SANTA ROSA (BCN)
A two-vehicle head-on collision on state Highway 12 in Santa Rosa Tuesday night critically injured both drivers, the Santa Rosa Police Department reported today.
Raymond Pasquini, 51, of Santa Rosa was heading west on Highway 12 near Calistoga Road at 10:30 p.m. when his Mitsubishi pickup truck crossed over into the eastbound lanes, hitting a Volkswagen van driven by Lynn Danehy, 46, of Petaluma, said police Sgt. Gary Negri.
Pasquini and Danehy were alone in their vehicles. They were transported to hospitals and listed in critical condition.
Alcohol is suspected as a factor in the crash, said Negri.
An investigation into the crash is under way.
Police on Wednesday reviewed 911 tapes and searched for more witnesses as
they investigated a head-on crash on Highway 12 that left a Petaluma woman and
a Santa Rosa man in critical condition.
Police identified Lynn Danehy, 44, and Raymond Pasquini, 52, as the drivers in
the crash at about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday near Calistoga Road.
It's still under investigation "but alcohol may very well be a
factor," Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Gary Negri said.
Danehy was eastbound on Highway 12 when her 1963 Volkswagen was struck by a
Mitsubishi pickup driven by Pasquini, Negri said. The pickup had crossed the
raised divider separating the eastbound and westbound lanes and collided with
Danehy's bus.
A short stretch of Highway 12 was closed in both directions until 4 a.m.
Wednesday.
A witness who was driving behind Pasquini said the pickup had been weaving for
some time, Negri said. The witness called 911 and was connected to the CHP at
10:15 p.m., then forwarded to Santa Rosa police dispatchers just before the
crash.
Anyone who saw the crash or what led up to it is asked to call Officers Brian
Kohlman or Robert Kopriva at 543-3636.