Sonoma County Coroner identifies victim in Bennett Valley Road scooter crash

The man died after colliding with a passenger truck making a U-turn.|
KEVIN FIXLER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The Santa Rosa man who died after colliding with a passenger truck Thursday afternoon while riding a Vespa scooter has been identified as 66-year-old Gary Edward James.

The crash occurred about 12:20 p.m. on Bennett Valley Road near the intersection of Grange Road. The driver of the truck, Rebecca Woodruff, 64, also of Santa Rosa, was headed west when she slowed and pulled over onto the right shoulder to make a U-turn, according to the California Highway Patrol.

James, also traveling west on Bennett Valley Road, came up behind and collided with the driver’s side of the truck. He was ejected from the scooter and transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.

Woodruff was uninjured in the collision and cooperating with investigators, the CHP said. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected in the incident.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin Fixler at 707-521-5336 or at kevin.fixler@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @kfixler.

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