Authorities release new details in wrong-way collision

UPDATE (January 25, 5:40 P.M.)

We are learning new details regarding the woman who caused the fatal collision on Interstate 8 near Dogwood Road on January 7.

According to California Highway Patrol, a cousin who wished to remain anonymous told authorities that the woman lived with her briefly last year in the Riverside County Area. The family member also stated that the woman threatened another family member and was asked to leave their residence.

Authorities said as far as they knew she did not have a home or reason to be in California.

ORIGINAL STORY

Authorities continue to investigate what caused a U-Haul driver to speed on the wrong side of Interstate 8 and led to two deaths.

CHP said the crash happened Monday at about 9 p.m. A 75-year-old woman from South Carolina was driving a U-Haul up to 90 miles per hour heading into oncoming traffic.

CHP officers tried to stop the driver but their efforts fell short.

“The woman seemed to not understand what units were trying to do,” CHP Public Information Officer Javier Amezcua said. “Obviously the contact was being made in the right lanes of traffic. As the vehicle continued, a 30-year old woman from Calexico [was] traveling eastbound at the time in the same lane and both vehicles collided head-on.”

Both women died at the scene of the crash. CHP said alcohol did not play a role in the incident.

Amezcua said, “On the scene usually we can get a smell of an alcoholic beverage of some sort. Obviously, if there were drugs on board, we won’t get that till a toxicology report is done.”

According to CHP, wrong-way drivers are becoming more frequent in the area.

Amezcua added, “We do have wrong way drivers that come through the area occasionally. They’ll get on an exit mistakenly and then be traveling on the roadway and won’t be able to turn around until they get to the next exit.”

If you ever find yourself driving in the wrong direction, CHP suggests the following steps.

“Immediately pull over to the right shoulder. If you can, safely make a U-turn and then go back in the correct direction that would probably be the best bet. If you’re unable to make that turn, just call 9-1-1, they’ll send a unit out to assist you.”

CHP is not releasing the names of both women until all of their family members are notified.