Santa Rosa woman dies from injuries in Highway 101 crash

A Santa Rosa woman died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a Highway 101 car crash last week, authorities said.

Juanita Santana, 36, died from injuries suffered in the Nov. 15 crash involving three vehicles, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said.

Santana was driving her 1999 Mercedes-Benz southbound from the Steele Lane entrance ramp at a high rate of speed when it hydroplaned across the highway and collided with the center median before stopping and blocking two lanes of the highway, police said.

While Santana and her passenger, Angelica Cardiel, were standing near the Mercedes, a 2000 Honda Civic driven by Gregory Hernandez, 55, of Santa Rosa, hit their vehicle, police said. The crash rammed the Mercedes into both women, pinning Santana beneath it.

Both women suffered major injuries, police said.

Another vehicle driven by Gabriel Zaragoza of Santa Rosa then crashed into the Honda, blocking all lanes of the highway, officers said. Hernandez fled the scene on foot but was found. He was arrested on a complaint of felony hit-and-run causing injury.

-Bill Swindell