Fatal Lakeville Highway Crash: 1 Killed, 3 Injured, Police Say

PETALUMA, CA — UPDATED: A six-vehicle collision Tuesday morning on Lakeville Highway in Petaluma claimed the life of a 67-year-old woman, according to police. The crash on state Highway 116 near South McDowell Extension was reported by several 911 callers at 7:15 a.m., Petaluma police Lt. Ron Klein said in a late-afternoon news release about the deadly incident.

Police responded and found that three of the involved vehicles, a Chevrolet Silverado, a Toyota Prius and a Honda Accord, had major damage, Klein said.

The woman who died was the driver of the Prius, he said.

"Apparently the driver of the Silverado was traveling westbound toward Petaluma on Lakeville Hwy. when for unknown reasons crossed over solid double-yellow lines into oncoming eastbound traffic," Klein said. "The Silverado collided with the Prius head-on and also collided with the Honda Accord."

Paramedics with the Petaluma Fire Department were on scene and pronounced the Prius driver deceased at the scene. Her name was not disclosed by police.

A 19-year-old man who was driving the Silverado suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries, as did his passenger, a 50-year-old man, Klein said. Both were taken to a local hospital.

The driver of the Accord, a 22-year-old man, was also being treated at a hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Lakeville Highway was closed between Browns Lane and S. McDowell Boulevard for about four hours as the fatal crash was investigated.

Anyone who witnessed the collision but has not already spoken with a member of the Petaluma Police Department is asked to contact Officer Mario Giomi at 707-776-3722.

ORIGINAL POST: A Sig-alert for Lakeville Highway — state Highway 116 — at Browns Lane and S. McDowell Boulevard went into effect at 8:20 a.m., according to CHP. The agency said the roadway was closed in both directions.

Petaluma police said in a 9:25 a.m. advisory that officers were on scene investigating the collision, which was in the area of the South McDowell Boulevard Extension.

Police did not give a timeframe for how long the investigation and road closure would last.

Motorists were asked to "please avoid the area and use alternate routes until further notice."

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