Police ID driver killed when car plunged into Novato creek

Police identified on Tuesday a man who was killed when his car skidded off a wet road and plunged into a creek in Novato — one of four deaths linked to a weekend storm that clobbered the Bay Area with heavy rain and powerful winds.

A preliminary investigation found that speed, severe weather conditions and significant lack of tire tread on his car apparently contributed to fatal crash.

“It was raining pretty consistently in this area so it would be fair to say that the roadway was wet at the time of the collision,” said Officer Andrew Barclay of the California Highway Patrol.

[...] visible injuries suggested he was wearing a seat belt when he crashed, police said.

Deborah McKeown, 56, was identified by police as the woman who was killed by a falling tree while she walked on the Canyon Lakes Golf Course in San Ramon Saturday morning.

Another victim, whose name was not released, also died Sunday while driving on northbound Interstate 880 at the Mission Boulevard exit in Fremont, according to the CHP.