Fatal Santa Rosa Crosswalk Hit-And-Run: Sebastopol Man Arrested

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Santa Rosa police have arrested a Sebastopol man in connection with the hit-and-run death last week of woman in a crosswalk in the Roseland area of Santa Rosa. Brett St. John, 28, was arrested for felony hit-and-run and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Police Sgt. Summer Black said witness statements and investigative leads the past two days led to St. John's arrest.

Police responded around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to reports of a collision between a minivan and a woman in the area of South Wright Road and Finley Avenue.

Officers found Barbara Jones, 56, of Santa Rosa, in the southbound lane of South Wright Road. She had significant injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, Black said.

Witnesses said the minivan fled north on South Wright Road.

St. John called 911 about 20 minutes after the collision and returned to the scene to speak with officers, Black said.

Police determined Jones was walking west across South Wright Road in a crosswalk north of Price Avenue and St. John was driving in the north lane of South Wright Road approaching Price Avenue, Black said.

St. John said he did not see Jones in the crosswalk in the dark and could not avoid a collision, Black said.

The collision is still an active investigation and anyone who witnessed it is asked to call Officer Josh Kertianis at 707-543-3636.

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By Bay City News Service

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