Head-On Wreck Injures 2 on Hwy 12

A fiery head-on collision Saturday afternoon on Highway 12/121 resulted in two serious injuries and a traffic tie-up that lasted more than 90 minutes, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A 4:14 p.m., a crash involving a red Mercury Cougar and a white pickup truck was reported on westbound Highway 12 at Old Sonoma Road, near Cuttings Wharf Road, said CHP Sgt. Gilberto Jose.

A 40-year-old from the Mercury and a 23-year-old woman from the truck sustained significant injuries, Jose said. The man was airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and the woman was taken by ambulance to Queen of the Valley Hospital. The extent of their injuries was unknown, Jose said.

According to a story in the , the Mercury driver was identified as Stanley Hilton, 48, of Ione (Amador County), and the truck driver was identified as Andrea Virdell, 39, of Rohnert Park.

Jose said the early indication was that the Mercury crossed over the center line and struck the truck. Witnesses told the CHP that the injured man was trapped as the car caught fire, and passers-by used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames.

A Sig alert was issued and travelers were diverted to alternate routes. Lanes reopened at 5:21 p.m.