Rohnert Park police were searching Monday for one of three brothers whose argument turned into a wild truck ride, leaving one dead, another severely injured and a third apparently on the lam.
Officers responding to a water-flow alarm about 10:30 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of Southwest Boulevard found a fire department water connection sheared off by a truck that had crashed into a retaining wall meant to protect it, Officer Ryan Foiles said.
But that was the beginning of a confusing investigation involving three Rohnert Park brothers, all in their 20s.
Officers found Edgar Sanchez-Martinez, 27, dead at the scene. He'd been crushed between the Chevy Tahoe and a retaining wall protecting the water connection, Foiles said.
Another man — Jose Sanchez — was found badly injured about 50 feet away, Foiles said. It appeared he'd been thrown from the truck.
"And the driver had fled on foot prior to officers' arrival," Foiles said. "Come to find out, they were all three brothers."
Foiles said police had been to an Anson Avenue residence earlier in the evening to sort out an argument between the men.
The third brother, Emmanuel Sanchez-Martinez, 26, left, taking a truck belonging to one of his brothers, Foiles said.
"As he was leaving, the other two tried to jump in," he said.
Jose Sanchez jumped onto the driver's side of the truck as it was moving down the road, Sgt. Aaron Johnson said, and Edgar Sanchez-Martinez jumped onto the outside of the passenger side.
Emmanuel Sanchez-Martinez drove for about a half-mile at a high rate of speed with both brothers hanging onto the exterior of the car, police said.
"And as he sped down Southwest, he lost control," Foiles said.
The truck then jumped the curb and hit the retaining wall.
Witnesses reported seeing the driver run south through the parking lot of 121 Southwest Blvd., Johnson said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Foiles at 588-3507.
You can reach Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 762-7297 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com
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