Driver Files Claim with Caltrans After Scary Incident

Matthew Poliakon was driving down Highway 101 through Novato before daylight on Nov. 3 when he said the road basically went out from under him. His morning commute to Bel Marin Keys was ruined when part of the pavement bit back at his Porsche at about 5:30 a.m.

“I’m heading south in the center lane … when 'bam'!” he said. “It was pitch black out, but it felt like whoever was working on that road just decided to leave out a big deep piece out of the roadbed in that area.”

Poliakon continued driving and pulled into work, then assessed his sportscar. The rims on the left side were bent and the tires were munched and slowly leaking air.

Caltrans for several hours to make repairs on the pavement.

Caltrans spokesman Steven Williams said the HOV lane project — part of the larger Novato Narrows renovation — is requiring the widening of lanes and fresh concrete work. He said Monday that work was done on the night of Nov. 2-3 and the concrete didn’t have enough time to set before traffic flowed over it.

Williams said he has not had a lot of complaints because the claims process is   handled online.

Poliakon, who has been driving 42 years, said he has never experienced anything like that morning jolt. He is filing a claim with Caltrans, he said.

“I can’t believe I survived, and I can’t believe my car didn’t flip or run off the road or something,” he said.

Did the same thing happen to you that day? Share a comment below.