Homeless Man's Escape Across Highway Causes Multi-Car Pileup

A homeless man who ran into traffic caused a multi-car collision on southbound Highway 101 in Corte Madera on Friday night.

Christopher Hood, 37, of Portland, Ore., was spotted walking in the No. 4 lane of Highway 101, south of Lucky Drive at about 8:37 p.m. A California Highway Patrol unit located Hood and tried to persuade him to move away from traffic and further onto the shoulder, but Hood then started to run away from the officers, yelling at them.

As they pursued, he bolted onto the highway running northbound into oncoming traffic. San Pablo's Jose Gonzales, driving a 2000 Toyota Corolla, slammed on his brakes to avoid Hood and was hit from behind by 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Corte Madera's Lenette Viegas, 52, according to the CHP.

Unable to stop in time, a 2007 Volkswagon Beetle driven by Corte Madera's Antonio Desilvia, 51, then collided with the Jeep. CHP and local firefighters responded to the scene, blocking off the No. 3 and 4 lanes between Wornum Drive and Madera Boulevard. The lanes were closed for 45 minutes while the cars were towed from the scene.

Meanwhile, Hood had disappeared from the scene until CHP received a call about someone swimming in the water across the street from The Village shopping center.

Hood was taken to Marin General Hospital for observation. He was determined to be schizophrenic and hadn't been taking his medication. Criminal charges are pending.

There were no major injuries reported, although Steven Viegas, 18, did complain of pain after hitting his head on the roof of the Jeep during the accident.