Santa Rosa motorcycle rider killed after being struck by suspected DUI driver

A 20-year-old motorcycle rider died early Saturday from injuries he suffered in a Friday night crash involving a suspected drunken driver, the CHP said.

Ricardo Olivarez, a 2014 graduate of Santa Rosa High School, was mourned by family and friends at a large candlelight vigil Saturday night at the site of the crash, at the intersection of Hall Road and Piezzi Road west of Santa Rosa. The man’s name was withheld Saturday by authorities but relatives at the vigil confirmed his death.

“Don’t take my son, God, please,” his mother, Mary Smith Olivarez, said weeping at the vigil. “I don’t understand.”

The crash occurred at about 9:27 p.m. Friday, according to CHP Sgt. Jason Bahlman.

Bahlman said Olivarez was coming to a stop at the intersection when his Suzuki motorcycle was rammed from behind by a Mitsubishi Outlander driven by Ethan Aizikovitz, 24, of Santa Rosa.

Bahlman said the force of the collision ejected Olivarez from the bike. He was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he died around 4 a.m. Saturday.

Officers determined after arriving at the scene that Aizikovitz, who had an unidentified passenger with him, was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of drunken driving causing great bodily injury.

An additional allegation of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated was added following the motorcycle rider’s death.

Aizikovitz was released from custody Saturday morning after he posted $125,000 bail, according to a jail official.

He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Thursday.