COTATI, Sonoma County, Calif., Oct. 16, 2026 — Two people were hurt on Wednesday morning, October 14, when a car and an SUV collided on westbound Old Redwood Highway near Highland Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash was reported around 5:41 a.m. and involved a white sedan and a white SUV. Both lanes of Old Redwood Highway were blocked for roughly an hour and a half while crews worked the scene.
One occupant was reportedly trapped in one of the vehicles, which sustained major front-end damage, and fire crews worked to extricate that person, the CHP log shows. Two ambulances were requested for the patients. One person was transported to a hospital in Santa Rosa, according to dispatch records.
The roadway reopened in both directions by about 7 a.m. The extent of injuries has not been released, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
We hope those who were hurt recover fully and quickly.
A Common Misconception About Two-Vehicle Crashes
Many drivers assume that if a crash does not involve a big rig or multiple vehicles, it is less likely to cause serious harm. That is not necessarily true. A two-vehicle collision at highway speed can produce major structural damage and trap occupants inside, as extrication efforts in crashes like this one show.
The risk is not confined to the people inside the cars, either. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 17,008 motor-vehicle crash deaths occurred outside passenger vehicles in crashes involving passenger vehicles in 2023. That figure includes pedestrians, cyclists, and others outside the vehicles themselves, a reminder that crash severity depends on speed and impact angle, not simply on how many vehicles are involved.
Vehicle size and safety ratings matter, but so does what happens in the seconds before impact. A crash investigation typically looks at speed, lane position, and road conditions well before it looks at how many cars were involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does speed affect how bad a crash is?
Higher speed means more force at impact and less time for a driver to react. Even a modest increase in speed can substantially increase the severity of injuries and vehicle damage.
Why is distracted driving considered so risky?
Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds to check a phone or adjust a dashboard screen removes time a driver needs to notice a hazard and respond. At highway speed, a vehicle covers a lot of ground in that short span.
What should I do right after a car accident?
Move to a safe spot if possible, check for injuries, and call 911. Exchange information with the other driver, take photos of the scene, and seek a medical evaluation even if you feel fine, since some injuries take time to appear.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Cotati, CA
If you are involved in a crash in Cotati, start by checking yourself and any passengers for injuries, then call for help. Stay inside or near your vehicle if it is unsafe to exit into traffic, and wait for first responders if you or anyone else may be hurt.
Once the scene is cleared, follow up with a doctor even for injuries that seem minor at first. Keep a record of the responding agency's report number and any medical visits, since these details matter if insurance questions come up later. Giving yourself time to recover, physically and otherwise, matters just as much as handling the paperwork.
