Crime & Safety

Driver OK After Overturn on 101

Witnesses said other driver cut off Santa Rosa woman, who then crashed into the center divide near Ignacio Boulevard.

Buckle up. Diane Fernandez will share that advice the rest of her life.

The 32-year-old Santa Rosa resident flipped her car on Highway 101 in Novato on Friday afternoon and didn't even have to go to the hospital.

"Gotta love seatbelts," California Highway Patrol officer Andrew Barclay said.

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Fernandez was southbound on 101 just north of Ignacio at 3:25 p.m. when she lost control of her silver Scion, Barclay said. Witnesses told CHP officers that a car in the slow lane made an erratic move and caused Fernandez to swerve, Barclay said. The evasive measure took her into the center divider and the car overturned, coming to rest in the fast lane facing the wrong direction and on its roof.

Another driver helped Fernandez out of car, Barclay said. Firefighters from the Novato Fire District arrived and assessed Fernandez. Captain Alex Bowlds said she only had complaints of shoulder pain but didn't require an ambulance ride. There was no airbag deployed, he said.

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The fast lane was closed for about 30 minutes as a tow truck was called and crews cleaned up the debris. 

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