County judge recovering after being hit by pickup in Petaluma

Gary Nadler was hit by a truck while walking his dog early Monday in Petaluma.|

A Sonoma County Superior Court judge was injured Monday morning in Petaluma when he was struck by a pickup while walking his dog.

Gary Nadler, 62, was walking across Petaluma Boulevard South in a crosswalk at 6 a.m. when he was hit by a Toyota Tundra pickup, Petaluma traffic Sgt. Ron Klein said.

The judge was carrying a flashlight as he and the dog crossed at G Street, just south of downtown. Nadler had made it to the middle of the intersection when the northbound truck hit him, Klein said. The dog wasn’t injured.

The driver, who stopped, was identified as Petaluma resident William Emde, 71. Traffic officers are investigating the collision.

Nadler was treated by Petaluma fire paramedics and taken by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Petaluma firefighters walked the dog home and put it into a fenced backyard, said Petaluma fire Battalion Chief Jeff Holden.

Nadler, who was admitted to the hospital, sustained bruises but no broken bones, said his wife, Alice Nadler.

“He’s doing fine,” she said by telephone from the hospital Monday night.

Nadler is the assistant presiding judge of the Sonoma County Superior Court and currently hears misdemeanor criminal cases. He was appointed to the bench in 2002 and previously served as presiding judge.

The judge’s court duties on Monday were handled by Superior Court Judge Larry Ornell.

Throughout the week or beyond, if necessary, court officials will parcel Nadler’s duties to other judges, said Jose Guillen, the court’s executive officer. The courthouse already is working with one missing judge following the September retirement of Judge Gary Medvigy. Visiting judges currently are filling that spot.

Courthouse concern Monday eased somewhat after Nadler called from the hospital to let people know he was doing all right, Guillen said.

“We got a call from him, he’s feeling better,” Guillen said.

Staff Writer Guy Kovner contributed to this report.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.

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