Sonoma County deputy collides with driver while trying to catch street racers

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - A 78-year-old man was injured Sunday evening when a sheriff's patrol car trying to catch up to street racers crashed into him as he was pulling out of a parking lot of a home improvement store.

Surveillance video obtained by KTVU shows the sheriff's Dodge Durango driving on Santa Rosa Avenue, seconds before the sound of impact is heard.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a Sonoma County deputy was driving south on Santa Rosa Avenue just before 6 p.m. with their emergency patrol lights on when the driver of a Ford Focus pulled out of the Friedman's Home Improvement store in front of the deputy. 

Deputy trying to go after street racers 

What we know:

The deputy was trying to catch up with two cars allegedly involved in street racing when the crash occurred, the CHP said.

The CHP says the sheriff's deputy tried to swerve to avoid the Ford Focus, but was unable to and collided with the car. 

The driver of the Ford suffered major injuries and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, authorities said. He was accompanied by his dog, who suffered minor injuries.

The sheriff's deputy, along with a police dog in the patrol car, both also suffered minor injuries. 

CHP Officer David deRutte said the incident began when the deputy noticed two cars at a red light at the corner of Santa Rosa Avenue and Todd Road a half-mile north.

"Two cars took off from the intersection, racing," deRutte said. "The deputy went toward them to go pull them over."

The two cars sped past Friedman's, and that's when Robert Cydear pulled out of the store's driveway in his Ford Focus and into the path of the sheriff's car, the CHP said.

Crash victim is military veteran and widower

What they're saying:

Cydear, a military veteran, was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries. 

"It's really sad, you know, I saw the news this morning and i wasn't expecting that it was my neighbor," said Alex Martinez, who lives next door to the victim, a military veteran and widower whose dog was in the car with him. That dog reportedly suffered minor injuries.

"He's a super mellow guy and is always nice. I know he's a veteran. It's really sad, and I'm hoping that he's OK," Martinez said.

The deputy and his K-9, a Belgian Malinois, suffered minor injuries. 

Authorities said the deputy had his emergency lights activated, but it's not clear if the siren was sounding.

But the CHP says there was no chase.

"It wasn't a pursuit," deRutte said. "He was not caught up yet to even, you know, just getting in position to pull them over. 

The sheriff's office is investigating the deputy's actions.

"The sheriff's office does an administrative review to make sure that the deputy was within policy and was following the rules of the road," said sheriff's Sgt. Juan Valencia.

Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan