This Marin County blog post covers yesterday’s tragic incident off the Sausalito shoreline, where a car drove into Richardson Bay near the Sausalito Yacht Harbor.
We’ll recap what happened, who was involved, how responders acted, and what investigators are looking into. Marin communities—from Sausalito and Belvedere to Mill Valley, San Rafael, and beyond—are still processing the event.
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What happened near Sausalito Yacht Harbor
Around 2:38 p.m., responders from the Southern Marin Fire arrived and found a vehicle submerged about 10 feet underwater near D Dock by Humboldt Avenue in Richardson Bay.
A 76-year-old local driver was inside. A second occupant managed to escape and didn’t need hospital care.
Rescue teams sent divers into the water to reach the car. They brought the trapped driver to the dock and tried lifesaving measures, but he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
People in Sausalito, Mill Valley, and Belvedere watched anxiously as the investigation got underway.
Recovery and Response
- Southern Marin Fire’s dive team and a private diver recovered one occupant from the submerged vehicle near D Dock by Humboldt Avenue.
- The second occupant escaped and didn’t require hospitalization.
- A firefighter got checked for minor injuries during the response.
- Rescue teams coordinated the vehicle’s removal and made environmental notifications because the car was underwater in Richardson Bay.
- The U.S. Coast Guard was notified, and Marin County agencies and harbor partners along the Sausalito waterfront worked together as the response continued.
Identity and Investigation
Marin County’s chief deputy coroner identified the driver as Brian Thayer Mullins, a 76-year-old Sausalito resident.
Investigators haven’t determined whether impairment or a medical emergency played a role. Police say Mullins stopped near D Dock and then suddenly accelerated into the water, but the exact cause is still unknown.
Officials are asking anyone with eyewitness accounts or video from the area near Sausalito Yacht Harbor to contact the Sausalito Police Department. The broader Marin County coastline—including San Rafael, San Anselmo, and Novato—is following updates as officials try to reconstruct what happened.
Environmental and Community Impact
Responders quickly arranged for the safe removal of the submerged car and kept an eye on possible environmental effects. Submersion in Richardson Bay can cause concerns about fuel, oil, or other fluids leaking into the water, so environmental notifications went out right away.
The Sausalito waterfront, with its houseboats and promenade, and nearby communities like Mill Valley and Tiburon, are definitely watching to see how authorities handle incidents like this. People want to know how quickly information gets shared as the investigation moves forward.
What this means for Marin County residents
- Local authorities keep stressing how vital eyewitness information is for their investigations. They’re encouraging folks from Sausalito to Novato to share any video or observations they might have.
- This incident really highlights the tight coordination between Marin County Fire, the Sausalito Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the harbor agencies watching over Richardson Bay.
- Community leaders want to remind Marin County residents that waterfront safety, boat ramps, and harbor access near Sausalito Yacht Harbor are still on everyone’s mind as things unfold.
Investigators are moving forward, and folks in Sausalito, Belvedere, and all across Marin County should keep an eye out for updates from Sausalito Police and county officials.
If you saw anything or caught something on video, you could make a real difference. Authorities are hoping these details will help them piece together what happened during this tough time for the Sausalito community and neighbors along Richardson Bay.
Here is the source article for this story: Sausalito Harbor Horror As Car Shoots Off Shoreline, Killing Local Driver
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