Sonoma Resident Killed In Crash Near Petaluma

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A driver who died in a crash early Thursday in unincorporated Petaluma was identified Friday by the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office as Alejandro Moya Benitez, a 27-year-old man who lived in Sonoma.

The sheriff's office said Benitez's surviving family members, including children, were notified of his death which happened on Old Adobe Road at Casa Grande Road.

Benitez was driving a BMW 328i southbound on Old Adobe around 12:38 a.m. Thursday and crossed over the double-yellow line to pass a Cadillac CTS that was traveling ahead of him in the same lane, the California Highway Patrol said.

As Benitez was getting into the southbound lane, the right back of his car collided with the left front of the Cadillac. The impact caused Benitez to lose control of the car. The BMW went off the roadway and collided with a tree, the CHP said.

Benitez was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the car suffered major injuries and was rushed to a hospital.

The driver of the Cadillac was not injured.

The CHP asked anyone with information about the crash to call the Santa Rosa CHP office at 707-806-5600.