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CHP: Woman in Petaluma crash that killed 2 young daughters is an unlicensed driver
Two young sisters died after the vehicle their mother was driving crashed into a river in Petaluma, Calif. on Wednesday, August 31, 2016. (KGO-TV)
By Wayne Freedman
Updated 2 mins ago
PETALUMA, Calif. (KGO) -- Questions are lingering after two little girls died in the North Bay when their mother's car plunged into the river. The car crashed into a branch of the Petaluma River near Petaluma Boulevard north and Ossage Avenue.
Sadly, this is the second such accident in Sonoma County in a little more than a week.
The cause of the crash is unknown. But the CHP reports that the mother behind the wheel, Alejandra Hernandez of Rohnert Park, was an unlicensed driver. CHP Sgt. Allan Capurro says the deaths might have been prevented if at least one of them had been in a car seat.
Capurro: "No car seats."
Freedman: "They should have been in a car seat based on the age?"
Capurro: "Yes. The younger one should have probably been in a booster seat or car seat. And we had no booster seats in the vehicle."
The sisters - 9-year-old Delilah and 7-year-old Sayra - died when their mother lost control while traveling north on Petaluma Boulevard. The CHP says Alejandra does not have a license to drive.
CHP officials say Alejandra Hernandez , an unlicensed driver, survived a crash that killed her two young daughters in Petaluma, Calif. on Wednesday, August 31, 2016. (KGO-TV)
Witnesses say the car swerved left, over-corrected, tumbled into the trees, flipped over, and landed upside-down in six foot deep water of the Petaluma River.
Only the mother survived.
"She is okay, yes, physically," said Capurro.
CHP Sgt. Jonathan Sloat added, "We don't know if she was distracted. What the situation was."
Within moments, eight Petaluma police officers and also members of the fire department dove into the water, trying to rescue the girls, but to no avail. By the time they could pull the girls out, they were gone.
In Petaluma, many people knew who was involved long before police released their names.
Two young sisters died after the vehicle their mother was driving crashed into a river in Petaluma, Calif. on Wednesday, August 31, 2016. (KGO-TV)
At Lombardi's Gourmet Deli & BBQ, they sent food to the first responders.
The two little girls and their father were regular customers.
"Smiling faces, always happy, very polite," said one employee.
Now, they are gone.
Last week there was a very similar tragedy; two young sisters died when their mother's truck crashed into the Russian River. Four-year-old Hailey and 6-year-old Kaitlyn Markus were in the backseat of their mother's truck when it went off the road and into the river. They were on their way to school in Monte Rio. The investigators were en-route to Hailey and Kaitlyn's funeral when this latest tragic accident happened.
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Authorities investigate accident in which two young girls died, Petaluma, California, Tuesday, August 31, 2016. (KGO-TV)
Updated 7 mins ago
PETALUMA, Calif. (KGO) --
Two young children have died after a car they were riding in crashed into a creek in Petaluma off of Petaluma Boulevard near Gossage Avenue.
The accident happened around 8 a.m. CHP investigators tell ABC7 News the girls, ages four and seven, were pulled from the car and CPR was performed on them, but it was too late.
Officers say the two sisters and their mom were in the car when it lost control went down an embankment into the water. Northbound Petaluma Boulevard remains closed near Gossage Avenue.
Last week there was a very similar tragedy; two young sisters died when their mother's truck crashed into the Russian River. Four-year-old Hailey and six-year-old Kaitlyn Markus were in the back seat of the truck when it went off the road and into the river. They were on their way to school in Monte Rio. The investigators were en-route to Hailey and Kaitlyn's funeral when this latest tragic accident happened.
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Bay City News
Updated 11 mins ago
PETALUMA, Calif. -- Two children died when a speeding vehicle they were riding in overturned and went into the Petaluma River this morning.
Sonoma County sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said the county coroner's office was called to Petaluma Valley Hospital for two fatalities in the crash.
California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Fricke confirmed two children were in the vehicle that crashed, prompting the closure of the northbound lane of Petaluma Boulevard North between Gossage Avenue and Skillman Lane.
The incident was reported around 8:10 a.m. to REDCOM, the Sonoma County Fire and Emergency dispatch center, a dispatcher said.
A chaplain and the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office also were called to the scene, according to the CHP.
Based on the scene, the car was speeding and failed to negotiate the curve. Two little innocent angels died as a result. Slow down, save a life.
Here is the article from last week's deaths of two young girls.
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CHP: Mother tried to reach 2 daughters as truck sank into Russian River
Two little girls, tucked into their car seats, died when the truck they were riding in crashed into the Russian River. Their mother tried to reach them, but the vehicle sank rapidly. (KGO-TV)
By Wayne Freedman and Elissa Harrington
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
JENNER, Calif. (KGO) -- Two little girls, ages 4 and 7, were killed in a terrible accident Tuesday after the truck they were riding in crashed in the Russian River. The crash happened on a stretch of Highway 116 with a narrow shoulder and no guardrail, just outside of Jenner in Sonoma County.
The two sisters have been identified as 4-year-old Hailey and 6-year-old Kaitlyn Markus.
It is the accident that has taken from Jenner not only its two favorite little girls, but also the only children in town. Two friends of the family spoke with ABC7 News.
"They were swinging on the swing yesterday," said one woman.
Michelle Irwin, a neighbor and friend of the victims, added, "All we heard was that the car fishtailed on the road this morning. It was wet. It was foggy."
The little girls, tucked into their car seats, were on their way to school in Monte Rio where their mother works.
No one saw what caused the truck to leave the road and plunge 12 feet to the bottom of the Russian River.
Because the roads were wet, CHP Officer Jon Sloat says the mother may have overcorrected, causing the truck to drive off the road and down a 40-foot embankment into the river.
Harry Kenney heard the splash.
"And before I could recognize whether it was even a car or truck it went gurgle gurgle and went down and a big bunch of bubbles came to the surface and then a woman came up shortly after screaming, 'My babies, my babies!'" he said.
CHP officials say the mother tried to reach her daughters, but the Ford truck sank rapidly in 10-15 feet of water.
She did not leave the scene for almost six hours. When the truck hit the water, witnesses jumped in to help, without success.
The first divers arrived 30 minutes later. They found the truck right side up on the bottom, the little girls still inside and no air pockets.
"I was unsuccessful in getting the door open," said Tim Murphy with California State Parks. "And then one of my lifeguards came and he was able to get in through the driver side window that was open or broken. He was able to open the door and bring the two victims out."
The road where the crash occurred is windy, and then it just drops off. Down below is the Russian River. People who frequently drive this stretch of Highway 1 say it's dangerous, and want a guardrail put up.
"A guardrail here would be a great help to hopefully stop any cars from going over the edge. You can see it's pretty steep, cars go straight into the water," said Jenner resident Brook Edwards.
"It's tricky. When there's heavy mist it's pretty slippery," said Bodega Bay resident Martin Cervantes.
It was foggy at the time of the crash. Hailey and Kaitlyn went to school in Monte Rio. The principal said there will be counselors and therapy dogs on campus.
In this close-knit community with fewer than 100 residents, when one person hurts, they all do.
It's a family there; a grieving one tonight.
Based on the scene, the car was speeding and failed to negotiate the curve. Two little innocent angels died as a result. Slow down, save a life.
Bay City News contributed to this report.