One killed in wrong-way crash in Carmel Valley

A second driver struck a CHP vehicle that had responded to the initial crash, according to reports

San Diego Union-Tribune

July 10, 2021 12:16 PM PT

A driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI in a wrong-way crash that killed his passenger early Saturday, July 10, and later a second driver was arrested on similar charges after she slammed into a police vehicle parked at the Carmel Valley crash site, the California Highway Patrol said.

The initial crash occurred about 1:45 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of state Route 56, near Carmel Country Road, according to the CHP.

A silver Honda Civic was driving in the wrong direction when it collided with a blue Mazda CX-5, said CHP Officer Salvador Castro. The Honda’s passenger died at the scene, while its driver, a 22-year-old San Marcos man, was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

The Honda’s driver was then arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The driver of the Mazda was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

While CHP officers and rescue crews were at the scene, the driver of a white Tesla disregarded the full freeway closure and crashed into the back of a CHP vehicle parked in the eastbound lanes, Castro said. The patrol vehicle was unoccupied.

The driver, a 29-year-old woman, was not injured and was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Updates

11:07 a.m. July 11, 2021: This story was updated with additional information.

Kristina Davis

Kristina Davis is the Public Safety & Courts editor, returning to the team that she first joined when hired as a reporter by The San Diego Union-Tribune in 2006. She previously served as editor of the Enterprise team. As a reporter, she covered federal courts, local law enforcement, the U.S.-Mexico border and a variety of criminal justice and legal issues. Raised in Tucson, Ariz., she began her career at Phoenix’s two daily newspapers after graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in journalism.