Pedestrian critically injured in Santa Rosa crosswalk

<p>A 57-year-old man was struck and badly injured Thursday in a Larkfield crosswalk described by neighbors as a treacherous path long in need of a signal light.</p><p>Thomas Wandrey of Rohnert Park was walking east across Old Redwood Highway in front of the Larkfield Shopping Center when a northbound red Cadillac sedan driven by a Lake County man struck him shortly before 10:30 a.m., the CHP said.</p><p>Wandrey was thrown onto the windshield, where he left a large depression in the window, then was tossed back to the street 75 feet north of the crosswalk, witnesses said.</p><p>He suffered leg and head injuries but was conscious at the scene, Rincon Valley Fire Capt. Chuck Morris said. He was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with what were described as critical injuries.</p><p>CHP Sgt. Jason Graham said the Cadillac driver, Hidden Valley resident Dean Beer, 85, said he did not see Wandrey in time to stop.</p><p>The crosswalk is aligned with Lark Center Drive and crosses two southbound lanes of Old Redwood Highway, a middle turn lane, a northbound lane and what's left of a northbound lane where the two lanes merge.</p><p>Wandrey was nearly far enough across to avoid being struck but was hit by the front passenger side, Graham said.</p><p>Heather McManus, who works at Larkfield Body and Paint across from the shopping center, said she was stunned by the distance Wandry's body traveled and couldn't believe he started in the crosswalk.</p><p>The impact was intense enough to send his footwear flying off his feet, she said.</p><p>“All I saw was his shoes,” said McManus, whose view of the accident was obstructed by a truck. “I heard the hit, and then I saw the shoes flying.”</p><p>She and others at the body shop, as well as other neighbors and members of the Rincon Valley Fire station a short distance down Lark Center Drive, said motorists routinely exceed the posted 35 mph speed limit and often honk or yell at pedestrians in the crosswalk as if they didn't belong there.</p><p>Even with small children trying to cross, “people zoom past me,” said Amanda O'Connor, one of two young mothers who described the dangers Thursday.</p><p>“We started driving to the bank across the street,” McManus said. “You take your life into your hands” on foot.</p><p>Her boss, shop owner David Hartman, said he sold an easement to the county for a traffic light more than 10 years ago but has seen no sign a light might go up.</p><p>“It's kind of amazing more people haven't been struck,” Morris said.</p>