Wrong-way collisions make up only a small percentage of the total number of collisions that occur in the United States. Unfortunately, with death occurring in 20% to 25% of all wrong-way crashes, they remain some of the deadliest of car accidents. Even more concerning is that about 60% of wrong-way drivers are intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. 3% had been drinking but were not to the level of intoxication. The majority of wrong-way crashes occur at night, primarily in the overnight hours, which coincidentally, is when a great deal of DUI offenses occur.
NBC San Diego reports that a suspected DUI driver who was going the wrong way crashed and caused serious injuries along Interstate 8.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night when they received a call just before midnight. The California Highway Patrol responded to a head-on collision caused by a Ford Expedition that had gone the wrong way on Interstate 8.
At around 11:56 p.m., a 28-year-old man was driving the gray Ford Expedition west in the eastbound lanes of the freeway between La Mesa and El Cajon.
The driver of the Ford slammed head-on into a BMW650I. Both the 45-yer-old driver behind the wheel of the BMW and the Ford suffered from life-threatening injuries. The crash caused major damage to both vehicles, leaving wreckage scattered across all eastbound lanes of I-8.
The 28-year-old is suspected of driving under the influence.
