Driver, 87, Gets Stuck on Bike Path Near Hwy. 101 On-Ramp in Greenbrae

A driver caused quite a stir in the area around the Greenbrae on-ramp to southbound Hwy. 101 Tuesday afternoon, confusingly heading onto a bike path on the west side of the highway and driving until his car "became wedged solidly" on the path, forcing the shutdown of one lane so the car could be towed from the path, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The incident was reported near the on-ramp from Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to southbound Hwy. 101 at about 12:20 p.m. when 87-year-old Raymond Pierce of Kentfield drove his 1991 Toyota Corolla station wagon northbound on Nellen Avenue at approximately 25 miles per hour, CHP Officer Eric Hohmeister said.

Pierce was attempting to enter the freeway, but became confused and drove onto a pedestrian/bike path that runs along the west side of the freeway and crosses Corte Madera Creek. Pierce continued along the path "until the walls narrowed to such an extent that his vehicle collided with both sides and became wedged solidly" on it, Hohmeister said.  

Pierce remained in the vehicle and was unable to reverse or exit due to the vehicle’s position, he said. The path is separated from traffic by a concrete barrier and a railing.

CHP officers shut down one lane of the on-ramp for approximately 35 minutes so that a tow truck could pull the Toyota off the path, Hohmeister said.

Pierce was not injured in the incident, but his vehicle sustained moderate damage to both sides, Hohmeister said. He was issued a mandatory reevaluation of his driver's license.