SANTA ROSA, CA – Nearly a year after a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 12 that claimed the life of a retired teacher, a truck driver is facing vehicular manslaughter in Santa Rosa.
42-year-old Richard Adams is accused of causing the August 29, 2024, accident that killed 78-year-old Pat LaFortune, a teacher and coach at Cardinal Newman High School. LaFortune died at the scene after Adams’ Peterbilt truck struck slowing traffic. Seven others were injured and hospitalized.
The Sonoma County District Attorney filed charges in July, and Adams pleaded not guilty in August. He is not in custody, and the next hearing is scheduled for September 24. CHP investigations indicate Adams was driving at unsafe speeds and failed to brake for stopped vehicles.
In addition to the criminal case, LaFortune’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Adams, his employer Eisenhauer Construction, Caltrans, and the state of California, citing negligence and roadway design flaws. Two other drivers involved in the crash have also filed lawsuits for injuries and damages. Adams and his company deny liability and are seeking to delay the civil cases until the criminal trial progresses.
