Driver Airlifted From Fiery Crash Off U.S. Highway 101 Near Healdsburg

HEALDSBURG, CA — A man suffered significant burns Thursday when his car veered off southbound U.S. Highway 101 near Healdsburg.

The California Highway Patrol was dispatched at 4:35 p.m. Thursday to a car fire on southbound 101. A man was driving a Mini Cooper southbound on 101 south of the Limerick overcrossing when the car went off the road.

CHP spokesman David deRutte said the car traveled approximately 40 feet off the road, collided with trees, and then caught fire.

The driver was able to get out of the car but suffered major burns, deRutte said. The badly injured driver was taken by helicopter to a burn center.

"It’s being investigated as a crash but possibly also an intentional act," deRutte said.

The CHP said people looking at the first crash likely caused a second crash which involved one vehicle rear-ending another. Fortunately, no one from the second crash was taken to a hospital for injuries, deRutte said.

The city of Healdsburg sent an alert shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday about the closure of southbound 101, encouraging outbound traffic to use Old Redwood Highway as an alternate route.

By 6:15 p.m., all lanes were reopened.