Marin RV Driver Crashes Into Bridge Guard Rail, Ruptures Fuel Tank

SAN RAFAEL, CA- Marin CHP officials are investigating a crash on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Friday, in which a man crashed a large motorhome into a guardrail.

CHP Officer Andrew Barclay says the crash happened around 6:49 a.m. on the bridge, west of mid-span.

"Multiple callers reported that a big rig had collided with a section of concrete K-rail causing major damage to the truck and rupturing the right side fuel tank," Barclay said.

However, when crews got to the scene, it was a 43-foot Freightliner Columbia motorhome which had crashed-- and was leaking diesel fuel onto the roadway and under the span of the bridge, according to Barclay.

"Notifications were made to the U.S. Coast Guard, Fish and Wildlife, National Response Center, and CalTrans," he said. "Trucks stocked with absorbent were dispatched from a local CalTrans yard and arrived on scene shortly thereafter."

As approximately 1,000 feet of bridge roadway had been covered with fuel, emergency crews shut down part of the area to traffic, Barclay said. All lanes were cleaned and reopen to traffic by 12:48 p.m.

The driver of the crash, identified as a 71-year-old Corte Madera man, was not properly licensed to be operating the RV, according to the CHP.

"[He] did possess a valid Class C license, however the vehicle he was driving required a Class B non-commercial license," Barclay said. "Investigators will be charging [him] with a violation of California Vehicle Code section 12804.10(b)"

Traffic on 580 was backed up about four miles into the San Rafael area following the incident.

(Image via Shutterstock)