Street race on Highway 12 ends in six-car crash

Highway 12 was closed for an hour Thursday morning after a six-car crash that likely was caused by a street race between two teens near Highway 101, the CHP said.

Witnesses told CHP officers they saw two cars, a Honda Prelude and an Acura Integra, racing west on Highway 12 between Farmers Lane and Highway 101 at about 7:55 a.m. As the cars approached stopped traffic near Highway 101 both drivers slammed on their brakes and lost control of their vehicles.

The Prelude struck the Integra from behind, causing the Integra to cross the center median and hit a guardrail. The Prelude then went into stopped traffic and caused a chain reaction that involved four other cars.

All westbound lanes were blocked for about an hour, officials said.

The CHP identified Manuel Hurtado, 18, of Santa Rosa as the driver of the Prelude. Hurtado did not have a driver’s license, officials said. The CHP said Sergio Velez-Ceja, 19, of Santa Rosa was the driver of the Integra.

A woman driving a Land Rover with her infant daughter was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. The woman complained of pain and her daughter appeared not to be injured, the CHP said.

Two other people who complained of pain were transported to Memorial Hospital.

The two teens were not injured, and the CHP said further investigation is being conducted to determine if charges will be filed against them.