The California Highway Patrol has identified Ashley Gillespie as the Menlo Park woman who was killed in a crash on U.S. Highway 101 in Penngrove Saturday night.

CHP Officer Kimberly Lemons said Gillespie, 25, was a passenger in a 1995 Subaru wagon driven by Ryan Elmer, 23, of Santa Rosa. The Subaru hit a tree on northbound U.S. Highway 101 just north of the Old Redwood Highway off-ramp at approximately 8:10 p.m. Saturday.

Witnesses said the Subaru was in the fast lane when it entered the soft dirt area of the center divider, Lemons said. Elmer steered sharply to the right and the vehicle left the road and struck the tree on the east shoulder.

Ryan suffered a broken leg and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Gillespie was pronounced dead at the scene. Gillespie and Elmer were wearing seat belts and both air bags deployed, Lemons said. Alcohol and mechanical failure are not considered factors in the crash, the CHP reported.

Moments after the crash, two other vehicles collided, causing injuries to seven occupants, Lemons said.

Andre Mancha, 18, of Rohnert Park failed to notice that traffic had slowed ahead because of the fatal collision, and his 1994 Acura Integra struck the rear of a 1998 Ford Expedition driven by Jeffrey Sealund, 38, of Santa Rosa, Lemons said.

The seven injured parties in those two vehicles ranged in age from 2 to 38. All were taken to hospitals and were treated and released, Lemons said.