Pat LaFortune dies in fatal Santa Rosa Highway 12 crash
Pat LaFortune dies in fatal Santa Rosa Highway 12 crash
**Fatal Santa Rosa Highway 12 crash death of Pat LaFortune – Obituary**
In a tragic incident on Thursday around noon, all lanes of westbound Highway 12 in Santa Rosa have been reopened following a severe multi-vehicle accident. The collision involved a big rig and nearly a dozen other vehicles, resulting in the death of a pickup truck driver and leaving nine others hospitalized.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 12 and Fulton Road. Emergency responders, including the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Santa Rosa Fire Department (SRFD), arrived at the scene to find extensive damage. The pickup truck, driven by Pat LaFortune, a long-time teacher at Cardinal Newman High School, was engulfed in flames before firefighters could arrive.
Preliminary findings suggest that the big rig failed to stop at the traffic signal on Fulton Road, leading to a chain reaction as it collided with vehicles in both directions. The impact resulted in a fire that was contained within 20 minutes. Westbound traffic on Highway 12 was diverted for several hours, with vehicles rerouted at Stony Point Road.
The collision involved at least 11 vehicles, including a big rig loaded with dirt. Among the damaged vehicles were a Honda CR-V and a Mercedes-Benz SUV, which suffered significant tire damage. Out of the nine injured, three sustained serious injuries while the rest had minor to moderate injuries.
The cause of the crash, including whether substances or alcohol played a role, remains under investigation by the CHP.
Pat LaFortune dies in fatal Santa Rosa Highway 12 crash **Fatal Santa Rosa Highway 12 crash death of Pat LaFortune – Obituary** In a tragic incident on Thursday around noon, all lanes of westbound Highway 12 in Santa Rosa have been reopened following a severe multi-vehicle accident. The collision involved a big rig and nearly…
Pat LaFortune dies in fatal Santa Rosa Highway 12 crash **Fatal Santa Rosa Highway 12 crash death of Pat LaFortune – Obituary** In a tragic incident on Thursday around noon, all lanes of westbound Highway 12 in Santa Rosa have been reopened following a severe multi-vehicle accident. The collision involved a big rig and nearly…