Minor injuries as motorcyclist avoids crash in Santa Rosa

A motorcyclist who came upon stopped traffic in front of him on Santa Rosa’s Fourth Street early Thursday abandoned his bike rather than smash into the vehicle in front of him, police said.

The unidentified biker laid his motorcycle on its side as he dismounted, allowing it to slide under the forward car, though his injuries were minimal, Sgt. Doug Schlief said.

The 8:30 a.m. incident occurred at Leland Street near the intersection of Fourth Street and College Avenue when a car in front of the motorcycle stopped to turn left, Schlief said.

The motorcyclist was taken to Kaiser Medical Center for evaluation of wounds sustained in the accident, he said.

Additional details were not available early Thursday.