UPDATE: Head-on on Highway 121

A combination of unsafe speed and wet pavement likely caused Sean Balderrama, 32, of Sonoma, to lose control of his car Saturday afternoon, in a collision on Highway 121 near Viansa Winery that sent three people to the hospital.
CHP spokesperson Jaret Paulson said Balderrama’s Chevy Impala was traveling north when, approaching a slight curve in the road, it drifted over the double-yellow line and struck a southbound Mercedes driven by Ernest Khim, 53, of Novato, at about 3:30 p.m. The nearly head-on impact sent Khim’s vehicle into a concrete drainage ditch, injuring him and two passengers.
According to California Highway Patrol officers at the scene, the injuries included a broken femur and a broken wrist. One person was airlifted by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, while the other two were transported there by Sonoma Valley Fire & Rescue.
SVFR Division Chief Mark Freeman said the airlift was somewhat unusual in that it was a sheriff’s helicopter, not an air ambulance, that was used. The usual helicopters for such duty were not available or unable to take off because of fog, he said. A medic from his team accompanied the injured party on the flight to the hospital.
Balderrama was not hospitalized. There was no indication that he was intoxicated, Paulson said, although the CHP investigation is ongoing.
The Schellville Fire Department also responded to the accident. Highway 121 was limited to sporadic one-lane access until 5:30 p.m., to allow for clean-up.