Strong winds scatter marijuana near Hwy. 101 after cargo van catches fire, spills load

A cargo van hauling marijuana and butane caught fire Tuesday after its driver lit a cigarette near a Highway 101 onramp in Santa Rosa, authorities said.

The fire was reported at 9:35 a.m. near the southbound onramp at Davis and Third streets, where officials found a van carrying several 55-gallon trash bags of marijuana trimmings soaked in butane, according to the Santa Rosa Fire Department.

The driver, described as a man in his 50s, was taken to a local hospital for moderate injuries that were not life threatening.

“He definitely had burns to his hands and face,” Santa Rosa police Sgt. Summer Gloeckner said, adding that the man’s beard was also singed.

She added that there were canisters of butane in the van, but officials had yet to determine Tuesday whether they were leaking or if the cigarette ignited chemicals from the marijuana.

Narcotics investigators are trying to identify the source of the marijuana and whether it was being transported legally, Gloeckner said.

The van remained near the onramp into the afternoon. The rear of the vehicle was visibly burned.

At least two bags of marijuana fell from the vehicle. Wind from Tuesday’s storm blew some of the marijuana from the ground.

Santa Rosa police, the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans responded to the scene and the onramp was closed until about 1:30 p.m.

Some marijuana was still visible on the roadway even after officials left and traffic was allowed to flow.

You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @colin_atagi