3rd person dies after rural Sonoma County crash that killed father and son

The man who tried to help a father and his sons after they slid down an embankment off a rural road near Cazadero earlier this week died of his injuries Thursday, authorities said.

He was identified by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Friday morning as Justin Gregori, 49, of Sebastopol.

He is the third dead in the two Monday crashes which also killed Matthew Sousa, 32, of Santa Rosa, and his 7-year-old son, Jason Sousa, as well as hospitalized Mathew Sousa’s two other sons.

Matthew Sousa was driving his three sons in a Jeep on an old, narrow dirt road on private property when the vehicle slid 150 feet down an embankment just as it was getting dark, according to officials.

The Monte Rio Fire Protection District and California Highway Patrol were dispatched to the scene around 5:45 p.m.

While first responders were on their way, a second Jeep driven by Gregori slid down the same embankment when he stopped to try to help.

An overwhelming outpouring of condolences and support was expressed on social media for the families.

According to one Facebook post, both Gregori and Sousa worked together at the West County Transportation Agency, a local public agency that provides school busing and transportation related services to 17 school districts in the county.

A GoFundMe was created by Jen Hansen to support Gregori’s wife, Rochelle, and their children.

“If you are lucky to know the Gregori family, you know they are filled with love, laughter, and support for their community,” the post states.

Multiple fundraisers to support Matthew Sousa’s wife, Kendra, and the two surviving children including a GoFundMe by Matthew Sousa’s sister, Kristy, and one by Kendra Sousa’s cousin.

A group of Sonoma County first responders and community members is also raising funds to help the families affected at www.sonoma1401.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8511 or alana.minkler@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @alana_minkler.

Staff writer Martin Espinoza contributed to this report.