Crash Ties Up Morning Traffic on 101

Southbound Highway 101 was temporarily blocked Monday morning in Novato following a crash between the San Marin Drive/Atherton Avenue exit and the De Long exit, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Eric Hohmeister said it was a solo-vehicle crash involving a 16-year-old Novato boy who was driving with his learner’s permit as his mother sat in the passenger seat.

At about 8:39 a.m., the boy looked over his shoulder to check traffic as he was about to change from the slow lane to the middle lane, and the 1997 Audi A4  convertible inadvertently drifted to the right and struck water barrels set up as protection against temporary concrete barriers on the side of the road, Hohmeister said.

Highway 101 is undergoing a to add high-occupancy vehicle lanes, reducing the overall width of northbound and southbound lanes through Novato. Starting in November, the from 65 to 55 mph for the duration of the construction project.

At about 55 mph, the Audi spun after striking the barrels and hit the center barrier twice before coming to a stop blocking the fast lane and middle lane, Hohmeister said.

The woman was transported to Marin General Hospital with cuts that were described as minor. The boy complained of shoulder pain but was not hospitalized.

All lanes were reopened by 9:12 a.m.