Victim Found Dead In Ditch Near Sonoma County Roadway In Unsettling Hit-And-Run

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A driver is suspected of striking a woman on Guerneville Road Sunday evening, fleeing, and leaving her bicycle more than a mile from the crash site, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The woman was walking or riding a bicycle east of Frei Road when a vehicle traveling east struck her, CHP said.

At about 8:43 p.m., a caller reported running over a bicycle lying in the roadway. However, authorities found no bicyclist or pedestrian in the area.

Investigators believe the bicycle was involved in the earlier crash and may have become entangled with the vehicle that struck the woman, or was moved intentionally.

The bike was ultimately left in the eastbound lane on Guerneville Road.

On Monday, CHP officers responded to a report of a woman found in a ditch near Guerneville and Frei roads.

Paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene.

CHP has not released her identity and investigators are still trying to understand what led to the woman's death and how her body ended up in the ditch.

Investigators believe the vehicle that struck her may have right front-end damage, including a broken right headlight.

Anyone with information should call the Santa Rosa CHP office at (707) 806-5600 during business hours or the CHP Golden Gate Communications Center at (707) 641-8300 after hours.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates