There’s no good time for driving a motorcycle erratically, with hazard lights flashing, then speeding away from enquiring authorities – especially not on New Year’s Eve. The scene unfolded at about 6:30 p.m. when the suspect vehicle evaded a traffic stop on Highway 12 near Siesta Way.
A short time later, another deputy with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office located the motorcyclist, hazard lights still ablaze, near East Thompson. When he again declined to obey a stop demand, the chase – at times reaching 60 mph – was on. The motorcyclist made a U-turn at W. Napa Street before running a red light at W. Spain and colliding with a car making a left turn from W. Spain Street. The cycle then struck another vehicle head-on.
The rider, identified as John Ogata, 49, of Sonoma Valley, was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained major injuries. He was airlifted to Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa. Air Ambulance 1.
The two vehicles that were struck by the motorcycle sustained major damage, but no injuries were reported.
Deputies believe alcohol was a factor in collision, so a search warrant was obtained for a blood draw. The sample was sent to the Department of Justice for analysis. Once cleared medically, Ogata will be arrested for DUI and felony evading, according to Sonoma Police Chief Brett Sackett.
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