UPDATE: Sonoma Woman Killed, Three Injured in Highway 101 Accident

From Bay City News Service

A woman was killed and three people injured when a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck drove off of northbound U.S. Highway 101 and crashed in northern Marin County early this morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash happened around 2:15 a.m. near San Antonio Road, just south of the Sonoma County line, CHP Officer Andrew Barclay said this morning. Earlier reports placed the location close to Olompali State Park to the south.

The woman, a Sonoma County resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name is being withheld until her next of kin has been contacted, Barclay said.

There were also three males in the truck, two in a rear seating area and one in the right front passenger seat, Barclay said.

The CHP is still trying to confirm their names, but they appear to be in their mid-20s to late 30s, Barclay said. None was carrying identification, he said.

One of the males was able to call 911, and said the truck left the highway somewhere between Petaluma and Novato, Barclay said.

The CHP, Marin County Sheriff's Office and Novato Fire Protection District searched the area and found the green pickup truck in a deep ditch off the right shoulder, Barclay said.

The truck appears to have drifted toward the center divider, and the driver apparently overcorrected and steered hard to the right, causing the truck to go off the roadway and overturn, Barclay said.

It landed on its wheels 15 feet below the highway in a cattle-crossing area that runs under the highway, Barclay said. No one was ejected from the truck, Barclay said. Alcohol is not
believed to have played a role in the crash, he said.

The right front passenger and one of the rear passengers suffered major injuries. Both were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition, Barclay said.

The other passenger suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Marin General Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition, Barclay said.

The No. 2 northbound lane was closed until about 6:10 a.m. as emergency crews responded to the crash.