Novato Man Doesn’t Remember Moments Before He Crashed Into Power Pole

Marin CHP officials are investigating a crash that caused a large brush fire Wednesday afternoon just south of the Sonoma County line and snarled traffic on Highway 101 in Novato.

Novato resident Dennis Forseth, 59, was traveling north on Highway 101 around 2:25 p.m. in a 1988 Volvo station wagon when his vehicle drifted off the roadway near San Antonio Road and about a half a mile north of the Novato landfill, according to CHP officials.

The vehicle traveled roughly 20 feet off the highway before hitting a power pole with enough force to sever it at the base and spark a brushfire. The fire spread into the surrounding hills and charred roughly 35 acres, while the broken pole cut power to thousands of PG&E customers in Petaluma. 

Forseth escaped from his vehicle and had no visible injuries aside from a complaint of pain to his back and body, according to the CHP. Forseth was treated at the scene and declined transportation by paramedics. He could not remember what happened just prior to his vehicle leaving the roadway, CHP officials said.

Northbound Highway 101 was closed at Atherton Avenue around 2:50 p.m. while the fire raged near traffic lanes and created heavy spoke. All of the highway but one lane was reopened around 3:20 p.m. The entire highway was open by 3:50 p.m.

Intoxication is not suspected as a factor in the collision, CHP officials said.

The department reported that three fire engines, one medic unit and two battalion chiefs worked with Marin County Fire and Cal Fire units on the blaze.

According to Petaluma Patch, power was knocked out to roughly 3,000 homes in the Petaluma area due to the vehicle accident.

A few Novato customers were also affected, PG&E spokeswoman Brittany Chord said.

Within 20 minutes, 1,260 customers had their power restored, Chord said. Another 1,555 customers were restored at about 4:15 p.m.

Up to 125 PG&E customers were expected to remain without power until around 6 a.m. Thursday.

There was an extensive amount of damage done, and the pole needs to be replaced, PG&E spokeswoman Jana Morris said.

- Bay City News contributed to this report

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