Santa Rosa Man Dies Allegedly Trying to Pass Cars on Shoulder

By Bay City News Service

A Santa Rosa man was killed in a solo crash Friday morning near Cotati after he attempted to pass other cars by speeding on the right-hand shoulder, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m. today on Stony Point Road south of Madrone Avenue, according to CHP Officer Jonathan Sloat.

The driver, a 37-year-old Santa Rosa resident, was traveling south in a 2000 Volkswagen Passat when he drove onto the right shoulder and started passing other cars at a high speed, Sloat said.

The Passat's right wheels apparently slipped off the paved shoulder, pulling the car up a dirt embankment and causing it to flip over several times, according to Sloat.

The driver was ejected from the Passat and was declared dead at the scene at 7:44 a.m. His name was not immediately available.

Investigators do not suspect that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash, although they will investigate that possibility, Sloat said. 

The driver does not appear to have been wearing a seat belt.

The crash closed Stony Point Road for around two hours, Sloat said.

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