Motorcyclist dies in east Santa Rosa crash

A Santa Rosa man died after his motorcycle collided with a car along a busy east Santa Rosa thoroughfare Thursday morning, causing a shutdown for hours as first responders attended to the man and investigated the crash.

Jorge Zamudio Morales, 44, was driving north on Farmers Lane around 6:30 a.m. when he crashed into the passenger side of a Ford Focus that turned left in front of him onto Hoen Avenue, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.

Morales was ejected and found on the street when emergency personnel arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Focus, 68-year-old John Waco of San Luis Obispo, was uninjured. Drugs or alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash, said Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Josh Ludtke.

A preliminary investigation, including witness statements and video that captured the moments just before the crash, showed Morales was traveling “at a high rate of speed, much higher than the flow of traffic,” Ludtke said.

Both vehicles had green lights, meaning Morales had the right of way, but the police investigation will make the final determination on who was at fault and if any criminal charges are warranted, Ludtke said.

The large emergency response prompted a closure of Farmers Lane in both directions, just south of the Montgomery Village Shopping Center, causing long delays for drivers navigating the congested corridor near Highway 12.

Eastbound traffic on Highway 12 nearing Farmers Lane was reduced to one lane. All roadways were reopened about four hours later.

Santa Rosa police are still investigating the crash and encouraged witnesses or anyone with information to contact Officer Jeff Adams at 707-543-3636.

You can reach Staff Writer Yousef Baig at 707-521-5390 or yousef.baig@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @YousefBaig.