Family Dies on Way Home From Hawaii
Updated 3:06 PM PST, Mon, Nov 30, 2009
The California Highway Patrol has released the names of the family of four from Sonoma who died in a multi-vehicle car crash over the weekend.
The crash involved four vehicles and a total of 10 occupants, according to the CHP. Among them were a 45-year-old man, his 42-year-old wife, and their young children, a boy and a girl, who were killed when a 2009 Mini Cooper ran a red light and broadsided their minivan.
The driver of the Mini was flown by helicopter to a Bay Area hospital, where he died Sunday.
His death brings the total to five dead in the crash.
Police say Johnathan Maloney, 45, his wife, Susan, and their young children, Grace and Aiden were heading home from SFO when they were hit. They all died in the impact, said CHP Officer John Sloat.
The family had just returned from a Thanksgiving trip to Hawaii.
At about 9:20 p.m., a 19-year-old Lakeport man driving the Mini was speeding south on Lakeville Highway and clipped the back of a 2004 Honda CR-V going the same direction, the CHP said.
The Honda's driver and passenger, 61-year-old Thomas Graham of Petaluma and James Parker of Stockton, were not injured.
After hitting the Honda, the driver of the Mini Cooper continued south on Lakeville Highway and ran a solid red light at state Highway 37. CHP Sgt. Trent Cross said he was driving about 100 mph.
At the intersection, the Mini Cooper hit a 2004 Nissan Quest, which was carrying the family of four as it was traveling east on Highway 37, CHP said. All four family members were declared dead at the scene.
The family's Nissan was pushed into a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant that was also traveling east on Highway 37, the CHP said.
Novato resident Carrie Rodriguez, 52, and her passengers Liberty Rosario, 47, of Fairfield, and Adelaida Nicholas, 53, of Novato, were taken to local hospitals. They were treated for minor injuries before being released, according to the CHP.
Originally traffic was allowed at the scene, but at 10:30 p.m. all traffic was detoured away from the accident site, according to the CHP.
Speed is considered a factor in the crash and alcohol use has not been ruled out, the CHP said.
Bay City News
First Published: Nov 29, 2009 8:18 AM PST
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