No ID yet on man injured in high-speed deadly Sebastopol Road crash

Investigators Monday were still trying to confirm the identity of a man injured in a deadly high-speed police pursuit that killed one of his companions.

The man has been in a coma at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital since the 3 a.m. Sunday crash at the Sebastopol Road terminus just west of Santa Rosa, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said.

Santa Rosa police said it’s unclear whether the occupants of the speeding silver Toyota Avalon noticed the cop car behind them - with its lights and sirens on - as the driver sped west on Sebastopol Road then crashed after failing to navigate a turn.

Less than a minute passed from the time Officer Aaron Gonzales-Campos told dispatch he was pulling out of the FoodMaxx parking lot at Sebastopol and Stony Point roads to pursue a speeding vehicle and when he reported seeing the vehicle crash about a mile down the road, Lt. Mike Lazzarini said

Maclovio Romero, 19, of Hopland was ejected from the crash and pronounced dead at the scene. The unidentified man was also thrown from the car, which was going about 90 mph when it blew through a red light at Wright Road and lost control as the road veers left.

The officer was still easing through the red light at Wright Road and from there saw the Toyota miss the sudden curve, violently collide with a series of barriers and K-rails and then overturn, Lazzarini said.

Investigators don’t yet know which man was behind the wheel.

A third man, Anthony Alfaro, 20, of Hopland, was found injured in the front passenger seat of the crumpled car. Alfaro declined to speak with investigators, Lazzarini said.

Police suspect at least some of the men have gang connections due to certain clothing and other evidence. Officers have not yet searched the vehicle and are waiting to get a search warrant.

The speed limit on Sebastopol Road is 35 mph, Sloat said. The vehicle was traveling at about 60 mph when Gonzales-Campos first noticed the speeding car, Lazzarini said.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 707-521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com.