Mark Clifford, 60, Michael Sokolsky, 53, Laura Stern, 52, Lawrence Sokolsky, 54, and Deborah Banks, 57, injured in bicycle crash with alleged DUI driver on Old River Road near Hopland, California

Modified Date: 
Sat, 02/20/2016 - 4:26pm
Accident Date: 
Friday, January 30, 2015

Driver in Hopland crash arrested on suspicion of DUI

The scenic road along the Russian River through vineyards is popular with cyclists.

Car crashes into 5 bicyclists in Mendocino County

The cyclists were struck from behind and didn’t see what happened; they simply found themselves thrown to the ground, CHP Sgt. Lanika Lee said.
Gabriel Ray, 18, of Ukiah, was driving a 1996 Honda Accord north on Old River Road north of Hopland when he crashed into five cyclists as they traveled single-file on the edge of the roadway. The victims are Mark Clifford, 60, of Los Altos; Michael Sokolsky, 53, of San Mateo; Laura Stern, 52, of Menlo Park; Lawrence Sokolsky, 54, of Portola Valley; and Deborah Banks, 57, of Sacramento. The crash occurred as Ray exited a curve in the road and hit the back of Banks’ bike. Ray continued driving, crashing into each cyclist. When the car hit Stern, she became stuck on the hood of the car and eventually fell off, and becoming trapped underneath the car. he was flown by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with critical injuries. The other riders were taken by ambulance to Ukiah Valley Medical Center. The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI. 
People Involved: 
Mark Clifford
Michael Sokolsky
Laura Stern
Lawrence Sokolsky
Deborah Banks
Gabriel Ray
Timothy Elliott
Roadway: 
Old River Road

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