Victim of Cloverdale hit-and-run dies of injuries

<p>At 19 years old, Kody Williams was just starting to figure out what he wanted in life, his family said.</p><p>He was working with his step-dad's construction company in Cloverdale for the time being, but the former high school wrestler was thinking about joining the Navy. As he had since he was a youngster, he was saving money for his future -- whatever it might hold.</p><p>All that came ended Thursday night when Williams was struck by a hit-and-run driver as he took a walk.</p><p>He died Monday morning.</p><p>"He was strong. He was a beautiful soul. He is going to be missed so much," said his mother, Kim Sandate of Orland.</p><p>Cloverdale police are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the driver.</p><p>Williams left his stepfather's house at 7:35 Thursday night, Sandate said. "He got up and said 'I'm going to take a walk.' He walked just a few blocks," she said.</p><p>He was struck at about 7:50 p.m. while walking along Citrus Fair Drive under the Highway 101 overpass. He was spotted lying partially in the roadway by the driver of a passing Sonoma County Transit bus. He was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and never regained consciousness.</p><p>Williams, the third of seven siblings, graduated from Orland High School last June. He wrestled in high school and loved being outdoors, Sandate said.</p><p>"Fishing, golfing, anything," she said.</p><p>Cloverdale Police are asking for the public's help in identifying any suspicious vehicles that may have been in the area of Citrus Fair Drive between Cloverdale Boulevard and Asti Road at the time of the crash.</p><p>Cloverdale police do not have a description of the, but said it may have damage on the front passenger side.</p><p>They are also asking anyone who drove through the area between about 7:30 p.m. and 7:50 p.m. Thursday to call Officer Mike Campbell at 894-2150.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Laura Norton at 521-5220 or laura.norton@pressdemocrat.com.</p>