Two injured in head-on crash

A drifting street sweeper truck smashed head on into a car on Highway 116 near Sebastopol early Monday and then sheered off a phone pole, the CHP said.

At about 5:55 a.m., the driver of the huge vehicle was headed toward downtown at about 45 mph. As he entered a long sweeping curve near Elphick Road, the vehicle drifted into the oncoming lane. He hit a 1987 Camry before breaking the pole, CHP Officer Barbara Upham said.

The Camry driver, James Pitt, 29, of Sebastopol had an injured left shoulder. He was treated and released at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

The sweeper driver, Javier Montiel-Cid, 38, of Santa Rosa complained of pain and had a cut right hand. He was admitted to Memorial and is in good condition, a hospital spokesman said.

The sweeper driver was not wearing a seat belt, Upham said.

Officers are investigating what caused the sweeper to move into the opposite lane.

Traffic was light and officers were able to funnel cars around the crash without a backup, she said.