Driver describes Santa Rosa crash that killed pedestrian

One of two drivers involved in a tragic downtown Santa Rosa crash in which a bystander was killed by an overturning SUV said Friday he entered the intersection after the light turned green.

Daniel Borbely, 72, of Santa Rosa said he was driving toward downtown to run errands with library books to return and a package to mail when he approached the intersection at Third and B streets and slowed to a near stop because the light was red.

Borbely said the light then turned green and he accelerated, entering the intersection. But then he was jolted by a massive force and a loud bang, he said. He felt his Ford Explorer rolling, the sensation of being upside down, the seat rattling, then nothing. Next came the sensation of waking up, the sounds of people calling for help, the sight of hands reaching in to help him.

“People were pulling me out. I had to take off my seat belt,” Borbely said. “They were asking me, ‘Is there another person, what is that blood?’?”

A 73-year-old woman had been standing on the sidewalk in front of Luther Burbank Savings, a wheeled shopping basket alongside her, and had been crushed by Borbely’s rolling SUV.

Borbely provided his account Friday, three days into the police investigation into what occurred Tuesday afternoon just one block from Old Courthouse Square.

The crash “affected so many good people, the woman, whoever witnessed it,” and the other driver as well, Borbely said. “I don’t wish this on anybody.”

Police officials declined to confirm whether Borbely’s account matched investigators’ findings so far. Calls to the other driver, David Nelson, 94, of Santa Rosa, were not returned.

Sgt. Mike Numainville said he would not reveal any details about their findings. He said they were not looking into age as a factor in the crash.

Three days after the crash, little is known about the 73-year-old Santa Rosa woman who was killed on impact, and no family members have come forward. Sonoma County coroner’s staff said they were still trying to find the woman’s family, and that they did not know when they would release her name.

Police were working with city engineers to help determine which driver entered the intersection on a red light. Numainville said his investigators will give their findings to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office and that prosecutors will determine whether criminal charges against one of the drivers are warranted.

Borbely said he believes the intersection should be redesigned to be more safe for drivers, with a priority on making traffic lights as easy to see as possible.

Borbely was heading east on Third Street and the Volvo wagon driven by Nelson was coming from the opposite direction and making a left turn from Third onto B Street , police said.

Borbely said he has a clean driving record and is devastated by the woman’s death.

“It is hard to describe. What does hell look like? Upside down, the chair is moving, the whole world is turning,” Borbely said. “It bothers me; I cannot sleep.”

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.