Car Accident on Highway 101 Slows Afternoon Traffic

Traffic on southbound Highway 101 was backed up Saturday afternoon, after a woman lost control of her car and slammed into the center median, according to Novato Battalion Chief Mark Heine.

Novato Fire responded to the accident, which occurred just before the Highway 37 interchange, at approximately 11:50 a.m. According to Heine, the driver's tire tread disintegrated while traveling on the freeway, causing the driver to lose control, cross three lanes of traffic and slam head on into the concrete median.

"The crash caused extensive damage to the car," he said in an email.

The driver, who had minor injuries and refused ambulance transport, was able to get out of the car on her own as officials arrived.

"Southbound traffic was backed up for a while until the car could be removed from the highway," Heine said.