2 injured in Occidental Road head-on crash

A head-on crash on Occidental Road in west Santa Rosa sent two people to the hospital Wednesday.

The 8:50 a.m. crash injured the drivers of a Ford Mustang and a Chevrolet Suburban and blocked the major route for about an hour.

Hannah Rae Kahler, 27, of Santa Rosa was driving the Mustang, traffic Sgt. Ryan Corcoran said.

Kahler had been driving west, about one-eighth of a mile west of Fulton Road, when her car crossed double yellow lines and collided with the Suburban driven by Kari Cagle, 43, of Santa Rosa, Corcoran said.

The vehicles ended up in the eastbound lane.

Two Sonoma Life Support ambulances responded, as well as Santa Rosa firefighters and police officers.

Santa Rosa firefighters had to free Kahler who was pinned below her knees by the wreckage. It took about 10 minutes to cut her free, Santa Rosa fire Battalion Chief Mark Basque said.

Kahler was rushed to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with injuries to her legs and chest. She was in critical condition Wednesday evening, a hospital spokeswoman said. Cagle apparently had lesser injuries but also was taken to the hospital.