A Rohnert Park man is behind bars today following a hit-and-run collision that left two elderly residents in critical condition on Christmas Day.
Santa Rosa Police say the crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. last Thursday at the intersection of 4th Street and Bryden Lane. Witnesses report that a Chevrolet Suburban slammed into a Volkswagen Beetle, trapping a 71-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman inside.
While emergency crews worked to extricate the victims, the driver of the Suburban fled the scene on foot.
Following a two-day investigation, authorities identified the suspect as 49-year-old Ryan Hughes. On Saturday, officers located Hughes at a Santa Rosa motel and took him into custody without incident. At the time of the crash, Hughes was reportedly on Post Release Community Supervision for a prior arrest.
The victims remain in a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Hughes is now facing charges of hit-and-run causing great bodily injury and violating his release terms.
