Motorcyclist hurt in crash with pickup near Santa Rosa airport

A Santa Rosa man remained hospitalized Wednesday after a motorcycle crash Tuesday morning near the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, according to the CHP.

Donald Nelson, 61, was riding on Airport Boulevard about 8:10 a.m. when a pickup driver crossing at Skylane Boulevard pulled out in front of him and struck the bike, according to the CHP Wednesday.

Nelson suffered several broken bones, Sloat said. The rid and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where he was in stable condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Chevrolet pickup driver Christopher Perez of Santa Rosa wasn’t injured.

Witness Brian Roe had just gotten out of his car and was walking toward work when he heard a bang. “I saw the bike go sliding and he was rolling over to the gutter, head on the sidewalk,” Roe said.

Roe and others rushed to the injured man and called for help.

The intersection includes stop signs for drivers wanting to cross Airport Boulevard. Roe said in his 10 years working in the area collisions seem frequent. “You hear a screech and a smash,” Roe said. “I’ve seen lots of crashes, mostly fender benders.”

The CHP said the intersection isn’t known to be a spot for serious crashes.

- Randi Rossmann