One Dies in Early-Morning Highway 101 Crash

The identity is pending of the pickup truck driver who died in a early-morning crash on Highway 101 just north of Novato, the California Highway Patrol said Tuesday.

Authorities were attempting to notify the family of the man who was killed at about 3:40 a.m. when his 2006 Chevy Silverado struck a power pole on northbound 101 near , said CHP Officer Eric Hohmeister.

Meanwhile, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported that the man was 43 years old and from Petaluma.

Early indications were that intoxication was not suspected as a factor in the crash, Hohmeister said. Witnesses are encouraged them to the Marin CHP office at 415-924-1100 to help investigators with a report.

The pickup left the highway for unknown reasons, hit a fence and then slammed into the power pole on the east side of the road, Hohmeister said. Battalion Chief Gerald McCarthy of the said the pole was sheared off about four feet from the bottom and the truck ended up on top of the bent pole base. The worst section of impact was on the driver's side door of the truck, he said.

Novato firefighters promptly started the extrication process with hydraulic equipment, McCarthy said. It took 13 minutes to get the man out of the truck, and he was declared dead at 4:05 a.m.

An airbag deployed inside the truck, McCarthy said.

All northbound lanes were temporarily closed as personnel from the fire district, CHP, Marin County Sheriff/Coroner's Office and Pacific Gas and Electric Co converged on the site. The debris was cleared at 5:54 a.m., according to the CHP.

PG&E arrived on scene to fix the power pole at about 4:19 a.m. and the crew is expected to be at the site most of the day to replace the poll, authorities said.

Another crash took place several hours later on the southbound side of Highway 101, resulting in minor injuries.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.