Crime & Safety

Motorcyclist Killed In Wrong-Way DUI Crash On US Highway 101: CHP

According to the CHP, a Sonoma County woman drove the wrong way on northbound 101 north of Santa Rosa, resulting in two crashes — one fatal.

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office has identified Daniel Adams, 56, of Windsor, as the motorcycle rider who died early Friday morning in an alleged DUI crash on northbound U.S. Highway 101 north of Santa Rosa.

The California Highway Patrol began receiving calls at 12:08 a.m. Friday about a wrong-way driver on Highway 101 at Healdsburg Avenue.

CHP officials said Sherry Risch, 53, of Sonoma County, was driving a 2005 Kia Rio south on northbound Highway 101 when she collided with the left side of a northbound 2001 Honda Odyssey north of Airport Boulevard.

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According to the CHP, both vehicles spun out of control and the Honda came to rest in the center divider and leftmost lane.

Risch's Kia came to rest in the two lanes furthest to the left, the CHP said. A 2016 BMW motorcycle driven by Adams struck the Kia in the second lane from the left, CHP officials said. Adams was ejected into the lane and was later pronounced dead.

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Risch allegedly appeared intoxicated and suffered moderate injuries. She was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital before she was taken to jail around 8:30 a.m.

The 44-year-old driver of the Honda suffered moderate injuries, and a passenger in the Honda suffered major injuries that required immediate surgery. Both were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the CHP said.

Risch was arrested on suspicion of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, officials with the CHP said.

Risch was booked in the Sonoma County jail on suspicion of DUI and murder and is scheduled to be arraigned in Sonoma County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon.

The collision and subsequent crash closed northbound Highway 101 until 4:37 a.m. Friday.

By Bay City News Service

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