Santa Rosa Driver in Critical Condition Following Head-On Highway 12 Crash

The driver of a car that collided with a pickup on state Highway 12 near Glen Ellen on Wednesday afternoon is in critical condition today at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, hospital spokeswoman Katy Hillenmeyer said.

Thomas King, 70, of Santa Rosa, was driving a 2001 Hyundai east on Highway 29 near Dunbar Road around 2:40 p.m. when he tried to pass a car in front of him, California Highway Patrol Officer Kimberly Lemons said.

There was not enough room to complete the pass and the Hyundai collided head-on with a westbound 2005 full-size Ford pickup driven by 82-year-old Kenneth Prior of Santa Rosa, Lemons said.

The Ford rolled over at least once and landed on its side in a ditch, she said.

Both drivers were extricated from their vehicles, Lemons said. There were no passengers in either car.

King had started passing the vehicle in a passing zone but the crash happened in a no-passing zone, Lemons said. A witness estimated the Hyundai had not reached 60 mph. The speed limit on the road is 55 mph, she said.

King suffered head trauma and several broken bones and Prior suffered minor to moderate injuries.

The crash happened between Dunbar Road and Nuns Canyon Road shortly after a hailstorm moved through the area, south of Santa Rosa in unincorporated Sonoma County, Lemons said.

The collision shut down both lanes of the highway between Dunbar Road and Sylvia Drive. Highway 12 reopened about three hours later.

Any witnesses to the crash are asked to call CHP Officer Michael Phennicie at (707) 588-1400.

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