Teen killed, four injured in suspected DUI crash in Novato

A teenage passenger was killed and four other teens suffered major or critical injuries when a sedan carrying five young people left the roadway and struck a utility pole at the intersection of San Marin Drive and Simmons Lane in northern Novato just before 1 a.m. on April 11, 2026. Novato police and Novato Fire units responded to the single-vehicle collision and all five occupants were taken to hospitals, where one passenger was pronounced dead and four remained hospitalized.

Novato police identified the driver as a 17-year-old and said a preliminary investigation determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Investigators have not publicly released the names of the victims or announced any charges as the probe continues. Traffic investigators documented the scene, and eastbound San Marin Drive was closed for several hours while evidence was collected.

The Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District confirmed that four of the teens attend Rancho Cotate High School and El Camino High School and that the fifth is a former district student. Superintendent Maité Iturri, Ed.D. said the district will make grief counselors and additional support available for students starting Monday, April 13, 2026, as the community processes the loss and injuries.

Neighbors near San Marin Drive reported hearing screeching before seeing emergency crews. Resident Zulma Magaña described seeing first responders at the scene and said the teens appeared distraught as crews worked. Novato Police Department said it is coordinating closely with investigators and offering victim-support resources to families affected by the crash.

This collision is part of a documented pattern of nighttime, alcohol-involved crashes involving young drivers. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data show that in 2023, 12,429 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, about one third of all traffic fatalities nationally. California traffic-safety agencies including SafeTREC and the Office of Traffic Safety use state crash data to target enforcement and prevention programs aimed at reducing exactly these kinds of preventable tragedies.

Novato police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to contact the Novato Police Department Traffic Section at 415-897-4361. As investigators continue to process evidence and hospitals care for the injured, the community and local schools will begin coordinated support for families and classmates affected by the fatal late-night crash.