Pittsburg man pinned under garbage truck in Sonoma crash

A Pittsburg man who crashed his SUV into the back of a flatbed dumpster hauler early Tuesday in Sonoma was cut free by firefighters in an extensive extrication effort.

Sergio Hernandez, 51, of Pittsburg was flown by medical helicopter to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, CHP Officer Marc Renspurger said.

CHP officers suspect Hernandez, believed to be on his way to work, didn’t see the vehicle stopped in the northbound lane of Arnold Drive and ran into the back of it, possibly without braking. Sonoma Valley firefighters arrived in three minutes to the 5:40 a.m. crash near the Hanna Boys Center and found a demolished 1996 GMC Jimmy wedged tightly underneath a 1993 Redwood Empire Disposal dumpster hauler. Inside the crushed GMC, his legs pinned by the collapsed dashboard, Hernandez was conscious and alert.

With help from Glen Ellen firefighters, 10 firefighters worked to get him out.

“The back of the truck was into the driver’s door,”said Bob Norrbom, Sonoma Valley fire battalion chief. “It was difficult. We had to not only deal with cutting apart the vehicle but also get the truck off of him. We used air bags and were able to lift the truck in the air enough to get the dashboard off of him.”

A paramedic jumped in the car to start an IV and provide pain medication for Hernandez, Norrbom said. He was in an ambulance by 6:35 a.m. and taken to a waiting Calstar helicopter for the short flight to the Napa trauma center. Tuesday evening, Hernandez was in the intensive care unit and in stable condition. Truck driver Jesus Albavera Mendiola, 46, of Santa Rosa, was not hurt, Renspurger said, adding that Hernandez was lucky to have survived the impact. Following the crash, traffic was funneled to one lane for about two hours.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.