High Winds Wreak Havoc on Bay Area

Two people have been killed Thursday evening in wind-related accidents in the Bay Area, including a driver crushed by a falling tree and a person killed after being struck by a downed power line. 

Extreme winds throughout the region left thousands without power, brought down trees and fueled fires throughout the region.

The first fatality occurred in Oakland at 8:36 p.m. when a falling free killed a driver on Skyline Boulevard, Oakland police said. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another person was killed when a power line came down on Austin Street near Fruitvale Avenue Thursday evening.

A wind advisory went out Thursday evening, warning about winds of between 20 and 35 mph in some areas, and gusts of up to 45 mph possible in the valleys. 

In Sonoma County, a downed tree and power line caused a grass fire at Napa Road and state Highway 12 and about 25,000 PG&E customers were without power in the North Bay.

Residents in the area were asked to shelter indoors, Lt. Chris Bolton said tonight.

A tree also fell on a car driving on U.S. Highway 101 in Petaluma earlier, blocking traffic and injuring an occupant of the car, the CHP said.

The red Honda was driving north on the highway approaching the East Washington Street offramp when the tree fell on the car, the CHP said.

The accident blocked one lane of the highway and responders called for a chainsaw to get the tree off the Honda, the CHP said.

Initial reports said that one occupant of the car may have suffered a back injury in the crash and an ambulance was called to the scene, the CHP said.

The collision scene also blocked the Lakeville Highway onramp to Highway 101, the CHP said.

Even BART has reported 10-minute delays along its aboveground tracks because of the continued strong winds.

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