2 Novato Motorcyclists Injured in West Marin Crash

Speeds of up to 100 mph are being blamed for a crash that resulted in major injuries to two Novato motorcyclists Wednesday night in the rolling hills just west of Novato, according to the California Highway Patrol.

One rider suffered a severely severed, broken arm and cuts after the two cycles collided on Point-Reyes Petaluma Road, just south of the junction of Novato Boulevard, according to CHP Officer Eric Hohmeister. The other rider had a broken arm. Drugs and alcohol were not believed to be a factor, Hohmeister said.

The crash forced a 1-hour road closure. CHP personnel and Marin  County Sheriff deputies provided one-way traffic control until about 10 p.m., when the roadway was fully reopened. 

At about 7:45 p.m.., 20-year-old Robert Kline of Novato was riding his 2010 Yamaha R6 motorcycle, southbound on Point Reyes-Petaluma Road at an estimated 100 mph, and  Erik Dyvad, 20 was riding a 2004 Honda 600RR at between 60 and 100 mph, according to the CHP report. Dyvad braked for an unknown reason and Kline couldn't stop in time, resulting in a collision that sent both riders flying.

Dyvad's Honda crossed the oncoming lane and left the road, and the rider was ejected. He crashed down on his shoulder and slid as the motorcycle continued on and struck a telephone pole.

Kline's Yamaha rammed through a barbed wire fence,and began to overturn. Kline hit the ground and the barbed wire fence, coming to rest in a field not far from his bike.

A Marin County Fire emergency crew took Kline to Marin General Hospital for treatment of a nearly severed left leg, broken left arm and lacerations. Another medic rew took Dyvad to Marin General for treatment of a broken left arm.