Fiery crash near Ukiah claims second life

A fiery head-on crash just north of Ukiah last week has claimed a second life.

Former Sonoma County resident Peter Cole, 53, was removed from life support at Stanford University Medical Center on Tuesday, according to one of his brothers, Terry Cole, of Santa Rosa.

Peter Cole of Ukiah suffered multiple fractures and severe brain trauma during the early Friday crash on North State Street, his brother said, adding that Peter was not wearing a seatbelt.

The solo driver of the Toyota Camry that caused the crash also died but has not yet been identified because the body was badly burned, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

The Camry crossed into the oncoming lane at about 1:30 a.m. and struck head-on the Ford Explorer in which Cole was a passenger, according to the CHP. Cole and three friends were returning from a casino in the area, his brother said.

The Camry went on to strike a fence, power pole and a parked Jeep at Thurston Auto Plaza, engulfing both vehicles in flames.

The driver of the Ford Explorer, Joshua Depree, 26, of Cottonwood in Shasta County, suffered moderate injuries. Passenger Aleshia Dedrick, 33, of Redwood Valley suffered major injuries while Shane Roork, 32, of Ukiah, had moderate injuries, the CHP said.

Dedrick remains hospitalized with a broken back, Terry Cole said.

Cole was born and raised in Sonoma County, one of 10 siblings, his brother said. He graduated from Cloverdale High School then worked in construction before getting involved in the marijuana business in Mendocino County about six years ago, his brother said.

He also had a great smile and “huge sense of humor,” Terry Cole said.