Two people found dead last month in apparent drownings in Sonoma County following an atmospheric river storm that caused widespread localized flooding were identified by authorities Monday.
On Nov. 23, a community member was walking along the Piner Creek Trail in Santa Rosa around 8:40 a.m discovered the body of a man in the creek near Centurion Drive, just south of Guerneville Road.
Santa Rosa police identified the man Monday as 64-year-old Santa Rosa resident William Fowler. The Sonoma County Coroner’s Office had not determined the cause of death as of Monday. However, police said there was no foul play and his death did not appear to be related to the storm.
Also on November 23 there was a man found dead in a vehicle stuck in the water in Guerneville near Mays Canyon Road and Highway 116. On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office identified the man as 82-year-old Jeffrey Fox of Guerneville. No other information about Fox was immediately available.
The Russian River, which flows through Guerneville, had reached flood stage that evening, which was more than predicted and a flood warning was in effect for the area at the time.
