Cyclist struck by car, injured on Stony Point Road

A Santa Rosa bicyclist was injured Wednesday morning in a pre-dawn collision with a car on Stony Point Road near West Sierra Avenue.

Christopher Wright, 48, was southbound on his way to work in Petaluma around 6:20 a.m. when he was struck by a southbound Nissan Altima, driven by Jose Sotelo, 57, of Santa Rosa, said CHP Officer Kimberly Lemons.

Wright lost consciousness briefly and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, complaining of bruises and shoulder pain and a possible broken thumb, Lemons said. The injuries, while classified as "major" under CHP reporting policies, did not appear to be serious, she said.

The bike had damage to the rear wheel, and the Altima had moderate front-end damage, including a broken windshield. The vehicle was traveling between 35 and 40 mph, Lemons said.

Investigators don't yet know how the collision occurred, she said, but officers do not anticipate filing any charges against either man. It was dark at the time of the wreck, but witnesses confirmed that Wright was wearing lights and reflectors.

The section of Stony Point Road does not have a bike lane, although there is a wide shoulder. Lemons said bicyclists are not required to ride on the shoulder, but they are required to ride as close to the edge of the travel lane as possible.