Police identify two men in fatal Santa Rosa crash as cousins

Santa Rosa police identified the two men in a fatal eastside crash Tuesday evening as Santa Rosa cousins - driver Cesar Rosales Marin, 22, died in the crash and passenger Ricardo Banda-Marin, 18, suffered life-threatening injuries.

The 6:15 p.m. westbound crash happened on Montgomery Drive between Mission Boulevard and Melita Road. Police and firefighters closed the area to traffic for about four hours.

Marin likely was driving much faster than the 40 mph speed limit, said Santa Rosa traffic Sgt. Summer Black. His Jeep Cherokee left the road, dropped down a steep embankment and crashed into a tree, demolishing the vehicle.

Santa Rosa firefighters found the Jeep’s roof peeled back from the tree, exposing the two men, said Santa Rosa Fire Capt. Jack Thomas. The driver was dead. Firefighters freed the unconscious passenger and carried him up the steep embankment to an ambulance.

Banda-Marin was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where he was in critical condition Wednesday.

As well as speed, officers are looking at whether the driver was impaired from alcohol or drugs, Black said.

Black asked anyone with information to contact Officer Jeff Woods at 707-543-3636.

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