Motorcycle pursuit ends in crash west of Petaluma
Emergency personnel from several west county agencies administer medical aid to a man who was involved in an accident stemming from a CHP pursuit of a motorcycle on Bodega Ave at Spring Hill Road West of Petaluma,
KENT PORTER/The Press DemocratPublished: Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 1:47 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 3:59 p.m.
The pursuit of a motorcyclist, from Petaluma to rural Bodega Avenue, ended in a dramatic, high-speed crash Saturday afternoon, leaving witnesses astounded that the motorcyclist and two others survived.
Two men in their mid-60s were driving in a sedan that was struck by the motorcyclist, a 26-year-old East Bay resident who reportedly was traveling toward Two Rock at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour.
The crash took place shortly after 1:30 p.m. just west of the intersection of Bodega Avenue and Pepper Road, almost 20 miles from where the motorcyclist was first spotted on Lakeville Highway east of Petaluma. The pursuit, which was discontinued through the downtown, picked u again on the two-lane road as it wends toward the ocean.
One witness said she was shocked those involved weren't badly injured.
The CHP identified the motorcyclist as Dominick Korcykoski, of Walnut Creek, who was riding a 2008 Buell. He was airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with a broken arm and possible internal injuries.
He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license and recklessly evading police officers.
The occupants of the sedan, a Toyota Corolla, were identified as the driver, Michael Newhoff, 68, and passenger, Edward Canobbio, 66, both of Oakland.
They were taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital with what were described as minor injuries.
“The motorcycle tried to pass him on the left and clipped him, and he basically flew off the bike and landed in the middle of the road,” said Christie Bridwell of Petaluma.
Bridwell, who was on her way to the coast with her husband, Rodger Bridwell, described the impact as an “explosion of debris” as the blue sedan turned and flipped in the air and landed in a drainage ditch on the side of Bodega Avenue.
The cyclist went “flying through the air,” she said. “It was awful.”
Another witness, Chad Hamm of Petaluma, was returning to his home from a bicycle ride going eastbound when he saw a CHP patrol car and Sheriff's Henry 1 helicopter above zoom past him.
He then saw the motorcyclist scream past him in the opposite direction and the patrol car and helicopter turn around and give chase. Moments later he heard what sounded like an explosion.
“It looked like an explosion, a spectacular explosion,” Hamm said. “I've never seen anything like it...I saw the bike flying to the left and parts of the bike flying all over the place.”
Sonoma County Sheriff's Sgt. Dave Thompson said Henry 1 was on routine patrol in Bodega Bay when the crew heard about the chase on the police scanner.
“We were on the ground rendering medical aid within a minute of the crash,” Thompson said, adding that Henry 1 then transported the motorcyclist to the hospital.
The chase began with a traffic violation on Lakeville Highway at South McDowell Boulevard, CHP Acting Sgt. David Derczo said. The motorcyclist fled and led authorities through Petaluma.
Petaluma Police were contacted to take over the chase, but no units were available. CHP officers renewed the pursuit west of the city, and the sheriff's helicopter was about to take over the chase and allow CHP patrol cars to back off when the crash took place.
“Helicopter support was just coming on scene,” he said. “Generally they would take over pursuit, but he crashed.”
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