2 Dead, 3 Injured In Jeep Crash In Rural Sonoma County: CHP

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Two people died and three people were injured when their Jeeps overturned Monday night in rural Sonoma County, the California Highway Patrol said.

Santa Rosa CHP officers and Monte Rio Fire personnel responded at 5:42 p.m. Monday to crashes involving two Jeeps on private property at Happy Hills Hunting Club, the CHP said.

Response and rescue efforts by emergency personnel were hampered by difficult access and steep terrain on the property northwest of Cazadero.

According to the CHP, one of the Jeeps was driving down a dirt road and initially overturned down an embankment of some 300 feet into a ravine. The vehicle's driver, a 32-year-old man, and a passenger, an unidentified boy, were both killed in the crash.

A second Jeep, driven by a 49-year-old man and carrying two boys attempted to help the first, but also overturned down the embankment.

Emergency personnel extricated and transported the 49-year-old man to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

Two boys riding in the second Jeep were taken to the same hospital for treatment of minor to moderate injuries.

The Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office was expected to identify the victims once their family members were properly notified.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.