Rohnert Park man charged with mother's traffic death

<p>A 22-year-old Rohnert Park man has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in the Sept. 10 crash that killed his mother and severely injured himself and his brother, authorities said.</p><p>Ryan Crowder, though still recovering from internal injuries and broken bones, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday, despite concerns about his ability to get to court, CHP Sgt. Robert Mota said.</p><p>Crowder was arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges of felony driving under the influence of drugs and vehicular manslaughter in the death of his mother, Alma Crowder, 42, the CHP said.</p><p>But Crowder remains bedridden, Mota said, and when Sonoma County Jail personnel said they were unable to book him because of his medical needs, he was cited and ordered to appear in court.</p><p>“It is a serious case,” Mota said. “It's been a month and a half now. Charges have been filed by the D.A.'s office. He has been arrested, and arraignment has been scheduled Friday.”</p><p>Mota declined to say what kind of drug Crowder is accused of taking but said the charges were delayed until state Department of Justice blood testing was completed to confirm their presence in his system.</p><p>Witnesses also said Crowder was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the car, authorities said. </p><p>“We have some witnesses and then some physical evidence that indicate that he was traveling at definitely above the speed limit,” Mota said.</p><p>Ryan Crowder was not available for comment Thursday, and family members declined comment.</p><p>Prosecutors were not available for comment Thursday morning.</p><p>Ryan Crowder was driving a white Toyota minivan northbound on Stony Point Road shortly before noon Sept. 10 when he apparently veered onto the shoulder, then back across the road and into an oncoming minivan. The collision occurred between Todd Road and Scenic Avenue northwest of Rohnert Park, the CHP said.</p><p>A Santa Rosa woman driving the red van, Donna Brockwell, and her 5-year-old grandson suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital, then released, the CHP said. </p><p>Crowder's vehicle, after striking Brockwell's van, careened into an embankment, seriously injuring all those inside.</p><p>The occupants escaped with the help of passersby before the van burst into flames. Alma Crowder died several hours later at a hospital.</p><p>Her son Jesse Crowder, 24, suffered broken leg bones and other injuries, his father, Todd Crowder, said at the hospital that day.</p><p>Ryan Crowder sustained fractures of the femur, hip, and ribs, and had a lacerated liver as well as other internal injuries, his father said.</p>