Obituaries

Benicia Woman Dies In Marin County Crash: Coroner

A California Highway Patrol official said rainy conditions may have been a factor in the fatal U.S. Highway 101 crash.

SAN RAFAEL, CA — The Marin County coroner's office has identified a woman who died in a solo-vehicle crash Saturday in San Rafael as Nicole Michelle Smith, 33, of Benicia. Smith was driving a 1995 Geo Prizm north on U.S. Highway 101 south of the Central San Rafael exit when she lost control of the car around 4:45 p.m.

The Geo drifted into the left center divider, veered back to the right across all traffic lanes and into a right shoulder guardrail, California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay said.

Smith was taken to Marin General Hospital, where she died a short time later.

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A male passenger in the car suffered minor injuries. Barclay said a rain-slick roadway may have been a factor in the crash.

By Bay City News Service

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