7 Crash Victims Expected To Survive After Pickup Slams Pedestrians, Vehicles Near Mill Valley

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Seven people who were injured Tuesday when a pickup truck crashed into pedestrians and vehicles at an In-N-Out restaurant in unincorporated Marin County are expected to survive, California Highway Patrol officials said Wednesday.

A 56-year-old Petaluma man likely suffered a medical episode that caused him to lose control of a 2005 GMC pickup on northbound Highway 101 around 2:25 p.m., according to the CHP.

The truck traveled across all lanes of the highway, drove through a chain-link fence, crossed three lanes of Redwood Highway Frontage Road, went over a sidewalk and through landscape in the Strawberry Village Shopping Center and into the parking lot of the restaurant at 798 Redwood Highway near Mill Valley, according to the CHP.

The truck struck a silver Nissan Quest with six family members in or around the vehicle and drove over a suitcase held in the hand of one of the occupants, according to the CHP. The truck also bounced off two moving vehicles, then struck four parked vehicles directly in front of the restaurant before coming to a stop.

It was initially reported that eight people were hospitalized after the collision, but seven people were transported to local hospitals for treatment, according to the CHP.

CHP officials said Tuesday's incident could have ended up much worse considering the pickup truck crossed the highway and road without striking any vehicles and also missed hitting some pedestrians in the
parking lot by inches.

"As the driver of the silver Nissan stated, 'We got lucky. This could have been so much worse,'" officials said on social media. "This is coming from a man who had four family members taken to the hospital."

The CHP, Marin County Sheriff's Office and the Mill Valley, Tiburon and Southern Marin fire departments responded to the chaotic scene.

"We would like to thank fellow first responders who rushed to the scene and quickly dealt with a chaotic scene," CHP officials said on social media. "We would also like to thank the concerned citizens and witnesses who immediately rushed to the aid of all of those involved prior to emergency crews arriving on scene."

Bay City News Service and Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.

Image via Marin County Sheriff's Office