Crash snarls Highway 12 traffic near Kenwood

A two-car collision Thursday morning on Highway 12 just east of Kenwood left wreckage in the roadway that snarled the morning commute, the CHP said.

The 7:35 a.m. crash occurred near the Deerfield Ranch Winery, when an eastbound Vacaville driver, Jeremy Brannan, 30, crossed over the double-yellow center line for unknown reasons and veered into the path of a westbound driver, Darryl Robinson, 63, of Fairfield, according to CHP Officer Steve Fricke.

Robinson swerved unsuccessfully to avoid a collision, and the oncoming Fiat struck the driver side of his Toyota Avalon, sending him about 30 feet off the north side of the road into a vineyard, authorities said.

Robinson, the Avalon driver, was transported by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for evaluation of minor injuries but was expected to be released, Fricke said.

The Fiat was badly damaged and was disabled in the roadway, blocking traffic for most of the next 90 minutes, Fricke said.

The area was finally cleared shortly after 9 a.m.

-Mary Callahan