Multiple-car crash, brush fire spur standstill on Highway 101 in North Bay
U.S. Highway 101 came to a standstill on Thursday morning after a driver crashed their vehicle into a power pole, and the downed lines sparked a fire near an interchange with another major highway. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s 511 service, all lanes on Highway 101 and state Route 37 were blocked, creating congestion that gradually grew in the North Bay.
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Caltrans spokesperson Matt O’Donnell told SFGATE that the crash occurred around 9:30 a.m. “A collision of several cars led to one car hitting power lines,” he wrote in an email. “There were no reports of injured motorists. The CHP and fire crew were on the scene.”
511 asked that drivers remain in their vehicles. At 10:53 a.m., CHP reported a hit-and-run, with no injuries, near the scene of the crash on Highway 101.
CHP first reported the traffic hazard at 10:05 a.m. on southbound 101 near the Rowland Boulevard exit.
Caltrans issued an alert on its Instagram page that warned drivers to “avoid US-101 in Novato as crews are handling a traffic collision that resulted in a brush fire.” Images from Caltrans’ roadside cameras captured a parking lot on the highway as traffic on southbound 101 was stopped approaching Novato.
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The crash created a power outage that affected half of Novato, according to the Novato Police Department. “Traffic lights are out in south Novato – treat like a 4-way stop,” the department wrote online.
PG&E said it was “evaluating the electrical system to identify damaged sections and make necessary repairs in order to safely turn the power back on” and expected to restore power by 1:15 p.m.
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Around 10:20 a.m., O’Donnell said some lanes had started to reopen on Highway 101 and Highway 37.
At 12:08 p.m., O’Donnell said that all lanes had reopened on both highways.
This news story has been updated.
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