Cloverdale, CA – In the late evening of Thursday, May 1, 2025, an off-road vehicle crash resulted in fatal injuries to a male driver, according to KRON.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place around 10:20 PM near Cooley Ranch Road, west of Shady Lane, on private property in a remote area of Cloverdale.
According to preliminary findings, the man was operating a Honda Pioneer utility task vehicle (UTV) on a dirt road within the property when he approached a curve at what authorities determined to be an unsafe speed. The vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a wire fence, and overturned. The driver was ejected during the crash and sustained fatal injuries. Emergency personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
The identity of the deceased has not yet been publicly released. The Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office is handling the identification process and will release further information pending notification of next of kin.
CHP officers continue to investigate the crash to determine all contributing factors.
Single-Vehicle Collisions
In some cases, investigations may reveal that even in a single-vehicle accident, nearby drivers or unsafe road features share some responsibility. California’s Comparative Negligence rule means that, even if those injured in accidents are found partially at fault, they may still be eligible to receive partial compensation for damages.
