Full Notification

Press Release 09/15/2019, Fatal Traffic Collision Case #NP19-4701

On Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 12:01 PM, Novato Police Department officers were dispatched to the report of a vehicle collision on Simmons Lane at Marion Avenue. The first officer that arrived at the scene, reported that a single vehicle collided with a retaining wall in the 1100 block of Simmons Lane. The engine compartment of the vehicle was on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished by the first Novato Police Officer that arrived at the scene. The vehicle contained three occupants, a 16 year old male driver and two 16 year old male passengers. The two passengers had been removed from the vehicle by witnesses who stopped at the scene to assist.

The first arriving law enforcement units found the driver to be unresponsive after sustaining major injuries. Personnel from the Novato Fire Protection District responded to the scene. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. The two passengers inside the vehicle were transported to Bay Area hospitals for medical treatment.

Members of the Novato Police Department Major Collision Investigation Team responded to the scene to investigate the collision. The preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle was traveling N/B on Simmons Lane at a high rate of speed. Just prior to the collision, a witness reported that the vehicle passed another vehicle traveling N/B on Simmons Lane. The vehicle then left the roadway and struck a retaining wall in the front yard of a residence in the 1100 block of Simmons Lane. Simmons Lane was closed in both directions for several hours while we conducted our investigation. The roadway was closed for approximately 6 hours while the collision scene was processed. The Marin County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene to assume the death investigation. The victim’s name is not being released at this time.

This is a tragic event that effects our entire community. We are working closely with the Novato Unified School District to support young students who will be affected by this tragedy. Our School Resource Officers and school district staff will be working together over the next several days to provide support for grieving students and staff members.

We would like to thank our community members who stopped at the collision scene to render assistance and provide information to our investigating officers. We would like to thank our partners at the Novato Fire Protection District and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation. If you have any information regarding this collision, please contact our Traffic Sergeant Nick Frey at 415-897-4361 or [email protected].