Update: 1 Dead In Fiery Late Night Sonoma County Head-On Crash; 2 Arrested
BLOOMFIELD (BCN) -- Two arrests have been made in connection to a head-on collision on Highway 1 in Sonoma County late Saturday night that killed a man, according the California Highway Patrol.
Santa Rosa CHP officers responded to a report of a crash on Highway 1 north of Valley Ford Road at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
According to their investigation, a Nissan Frontier traveling southbound and a Dodge truck traveling northbound collided and came to rest blocking the highway.
The driver of the Dodge truck was identified as 47-year-old Joseph Mantua of Bodega Bay. Winter Nason, 25 of Santa Rosa, was driving northbound on Highway 1 and failed to observe the crash and collided with the left side of the Dodge and the rear of the Nissan.
The Nissan became engulfed in flames, but officers are still investigating whether the fire started after the first crash or the second crash, CHP officials said.
The male driver of the Nissan died, but a male passenger was able to exit the vehicle. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending family notification.
Mantua was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major but non-life-threatening injuries, and Nason sustained minor injuries. Both were found to be under the influence at the time of the crashes and were arrested, CHP officials said.
It is under investigation whether the driver of the Nissan was under the influence, authorities said.
Anyone who witnessed these collisions or the events leading up to them is encouraged to call the Santa Rosa CHP Office at (707) 588-1400.
