Motorcyclist killed in head-on Highway 1 crash identified

Authorities on Sunday identified a motorcyclist who was killed after a sport utility vehicle veered into oncoming traffic on the Pacific Coast Highway north of Jenner and wiped out two other riders.

Anthony Cruz, 44, of Vallejo died at the scene after being hit head-on around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sonoma County sheriff’s officials said.

The deadly crash happened when 19-year-old Alexander Odgers-McGuire drifted in his Toyota Rav4 into oncoming northbound traffic while negotiating a right-hand curve on Highway 1 near Fort Ross Road, said Sgt. Ross Ingels with the California Highway Patrol.

Odgers-McGuire first clipped the leg of 55-year-old Oakland resident Robert Rodgers, who was riding on a Ducati motorcycle, the CHP said. The Toyota continued on and smashed head-on with Cruz, who was riding a Triumph motorcycle, and 54-year-old Phillip Telesforo of Rohnert Park, who was riding a Yamaha motorcycle, Ingels said.

After colliding with the riders, Odgers-McGuire drifted southbound for 35 feet before he ran off the east side of the road and his vehicle came to a rest.

Cruz died at the scene, authorities said. Rodgers and Telesforo were airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial hospital with major injuries. Odgers-McGuire, who had minor injuries, was taken to a hospital in an ambulance.

Investigators were working to determine the cause of the collision. They don’t believe drugs or alcohol played a role.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky