Dramatic San Rafael Crash Leaves One Dead, Another Hospitalized

A woman is dead and a man is suffering from life-threatening injuries Sunday after a dramatic traffic collision in San Rafael, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The first report of the collision came in at 2:23 p.m. on northbound U.S. Highway 101 just south of Lucas Valley Road, CHP officials said.

A white Toyota Corolla was traveling in the far left lane when the driver lost control and the car veered into a green 1999 Dodge pickup, according to CHP officials.

“The Toyota lost control and began spinning across all lanes, eventually colliding with a dirt embankment on the right side of the roadway,” officials said in a news release. “The force of the collision caused the Toyota to become airborne and to begin to overturn. After traveling through a chain link fence, the Toyota landed on top of a black 2003 Cadillac Escalade... After colliding with the top of the Escalade, the Toyota fell back onto its wheels and came to rest blocking the intersection.”

“The female passenger in the Toyota was pronounced deceased on scene and the male driver was transported to a local hospital with major, life threatening injuries,” officials continued. 

The driver of the Cadillac, identified as a San Rafael woman, went to a hospital with moderate injuries, which are not considered life-threatening, according to CHP officials. The driver of the Dodge, a Novato woman, did not require medical treatment.

All but one lane of Highway 101 between Freitas Parkway and Lucas Valley Road were closed for about an hour while officers investigated the collision, CHP officials said.

Neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected to have played a part in the collision, according to CHP officials.