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Officers responded to a solo-vehicle crash on southbound Highway 101 just south of Railroad Avenue at around 3:40 p.m., according to a statement released by CHP Officer Jonathan Sloat. The CHP reported having received witness calls prior to the crash to report a Plymouth sedan driving recklessly and speeding.
While attempting to change lanes at a high rate of speed, the 16-year-old drove the Plymouth off the highway, across the west shoulder and up an embankment, according to the CHP. The vehicle then flipped several times before landing on its roof in a middle lane of the highway, trapping the young driver.
Emergency crews required about 35 minutes to extricate the victim, who was airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with serious abrasions and lacerations, according to the CHP, who could not confirm whether the injuries were life threatening.
At least one lane of southbound Highway 101 was closed for around an hour and 20 minutes, Sloat reported.
It was not determined if drugs or alcohol were a factor in causing the crash.
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