CHP: Distracted driving leads to Petaluma major-injury crash

The impact rolled a Ford Explorer, which slid into a tree and trapped the injured driver in crushed metal, requiring firefighters to free her Sunday.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Distracted driving apparently led to Sunday’s Petaluma Boulevard North crash, which caused major injuries to a 72-year-old Santa Rosa woman, according to the CHP Monday.

Driver Melody Anne Hopkins, 37, of Petaluma was reaching for an object in her Nissan Xterra when the driver in front of her slowed for a right turn and put on her blinker, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said in a news release.

When Hopkins looked up, she saw the vehicle, slammed on her brakes and collided with the back of Marilyn Ruth Vancleave’s older-model Ford Explorer.

The Explorer rolled to its side and slid into a tree, encasing the driver in crushed metal. Rancho Adobe and Petaluma firefighters cut the woman free in a complicated extrication effort. She was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries.

The 1:05 pm. crash closed southbound lanes for about 40 minutes. Officers still are investigating.

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

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