Petaluma Woman Injured When Van Hits Tree in Novato

A disabled Petaluma woman was rescued with the “jaws of life” and hospitalized in critical condition Saturday night after her van fitted for wheelchair access crashed into a tree on South Novato Boulevard, a fire official said.

The 51-year-old woman was trapped between the front seat and the dashboard when personnel from the arrived at 11:40 p.m., said Battalion Chief Mark Heine. The crew used several extrication tools to pull the unresponsive woman out of the wreckage of her Dodge Caravan, a process that took about 10 minutes, Heine said. She was then transported to Marin General Hospital.

Novato police Sgt. Jay Demski said Sunday afternoon that the woman’s condition had improved to stable, according to a contact at the hospital. Novato fire Battalion Chief Jeff Veliquette said the woman’s sustained multiple broken bones in her lower body.

The crash took place on South Novato Boulevard near Cowbarn Lane, between and South Redwood Boulevard. Heine said the van was traveling east, toward Highway 101, and went off the road to the right, striking a large oak tree head-on.

A dog was killed in the crash, Veliquette said. He said the dog appeared to be a canine companion for a disabled person.