A wrong-way driver caused a 12-car accident that killed two men and injured two in Chula Vista on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The wrong-way accident occurred on Interstate 5 near L Street at about 5 a.m.
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Witnesses alerted police about the wrong way driver heading northbound in the southbound lanes at State Route 905. A follow-up call indicated a vehicle crash near L Street.
The suspect vehicle allegedly had its lights off and crashed into a Ford Focus. The collision directly involved seven cars and the impact scattered debris and damaged another five vehicles
In addition to the two deaths, authorities transported two victims with major injuries to UC San Diego Medical Center. Two victims needed extrication. Updated reports state that one of the deceased is David Ramirez, 23, a new father and an army veteran.
Authorities diverted traffic off at J Street/Marina while the southbound lanes remained closed for several hours at L Street.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a study on the wrong-way driving problem in the United States. The NTSB named it “one of the most serious types of highway accidents.”
Those involved in the project wanted to identify “relevant safety recommendations” to prevent these collisions on highways and access ramps.
According to the report, bolstered by research conducted by state transportation departments, wrong-way collisions aren’t as frequent as other types but they’re more likely to cause fatalities and critical injures. Typically, they account for 3 percent of accidents on highways.
A rash of accidents in San Diego and Sacramento prompted the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California Highway Patrol to put their head’s together. In January through June of 2015, Sacramento saw five fatal wrong-way accidents that resulted in 16 deaths. During that same period, San Diego reported four wrong-way accidents that killed eight.
To combat these killer accidents, agencies began a pilot program. Crews installed larger “Do Not Enter” signs that triggered sensors and cameras should a wrong-way driver be detected. LED lights flashed and the camera took a photo of the wrong-way vehicle.
In addition, red reflectors have been installed to notify drivers they’re going the wrong way.
Story updated Feb. 4 to include one of the victims.