Injured Fulton bike rider in critical condition

California Highway Patrol officers suspect a Fulton man on a bicycle was intoxicated Tuesday night when he collided with a pickup and then was thrown into another vehicle.

Rider Patricio Navarro, 52, suffered possibly life-threatening injuries in the 5:30 p.m. crash at a Fulton Road intersection, according to the CHP. On Wednesday morning, he remained in critical condition in Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Navarro was making a wide turn from westbound Francisco Avenue onto Fulton Road, which put him into the path of an approaching Chevrolet Silverado pickup, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said.

It was nearly dark and there were no lights at the corner or on the bike, Sloat said.

Driver Maria Sierra, 43, of Healdsburg told officers she didn’t see him until she had hit him, Sloat said. The impact knocked Navarro, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, onto the pickup’s windshield and as he fell from the truck he was hit by a Toyota Prius heading in the other direction.

The CHP identified the Prius driver as Josiah Ham, 34, of Santa Rosa.

Navarro suffered numerous major injuries, and emergency responders initially thought he wouldn’t survive.

Initial CHP reports indicated no one involved appeared to be impaired from alcohol or drugs and speed didn’t appear to be a factor. But late Wednesday morning Sloat said the cyclist was suspected of being intoxicated.

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