2 killed by wrong-way driver on 91 Freeway
Two people were killed and one injured when a car drove the wrong way Wednesday morning on the 91 Freeway in Anaheim.
A 21-year-old man from South Gate was traveling west in the eastbound lanes about 1 a.m. in a Mercedes-Benz when he crashed into a Toyota Scion near the Harbor Boulevard exit, authorities said.
It was unclear how long the man had been driving the wrong way, said Officer Denise Quesada of the California Highway Patrol.
The Scion driver, a 26-year-old man from Diamond Bar, was ejected from his car and died at the scene. His passenger, a 24-year-old woman from Long Beach, also died but she did not eject from the car.
The Mercedes driver was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in grave condition and was placed under arrest by California Highway Patrol officers.
Investigators were trying to determine why the man was allegedly driving the wrong way on the freeway.
The eastbound lanes in the area were closed temporarily during the investigation but were reopened at 4:30 a.m.
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-- Nate Jackson
EDITOR'S PICKS:
I drove by this accident last night before any emergency people showed up on the scene, the body was in the lane I was driving in. It was completely horrible. My heart and prayers go out to the family and friends of the two victims.
Posted by: Cait | January 19, 2011 at 09:40 AM
Why does it always happen like this? The innocent die, but the intoxicated idiot always survives?
I have friends that are directly affected by this and the look on their faces from this tragic news is something no one should ever have to witness.
To the driver: I hope you get what comes to you in the end and that people will learn from your mistake.
RIP to those two and my prayers go out to their family.
Posted by: V | January 19, 2011 at 09:55 AM
Clearly the idiots in this world are a dangerous breed. Only around 5% on this world are considered intelligent, and the number declines because not only are more idiots being bred, but they also kill the intelligent ones.
Posted by: Dick Tator | January 19, 2011 at 10:06 AM
This was my sons friend; the female passenger had a 4 year old daughter; please people don't drink and drive;
Posted by: Barbara | January 19, 2011 at 10:51 AM
It wasn't put in this article, but in the OCRegister, it says the 21-year old driver who hit them was intoxicated and was arrested for a DUI
Posted by: V | January 19, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Sincere prayers to all involved in this crash and their families. Maybe they should make some kind of electronic device that is like magnetic poles that won't enter on the wrong side.
Posted by: Clark Zapper | January 19, 2011 at 11:24 AM
@Clark: That's a great idea, but, these kinds of tragedies don't happen enough to warrant a city to spend that much money on such devices. Also, I assume that city planners assume that the "DO NOT ENTER" signs should speak for itself and keep people out.
Posted by: V | January 19, 2011 at 03:18 PM
I was driving on the 91 fwy this morning coming home from work and saw this idiot coming toward me, i panicked and luckily moved in time to get to the slow lane as he was going at least 100 mph in the carpool lane. I continued to drive 20 more min home shaking like a leaf. I logged on to sigalert.com when i got home to see that there had been a severe accident right around where I saw this idiot driving the wrong way. I could barely sleep and woke early this morning to discover that he had killed 2 innocent people. I have been sick to my stomach. This guy deserves the worst he can get, if he even survives! Was the Mercedes stolen??? 21 yrs driving a mercedes. Makes you wonder about his upbringing. I too think they should have something to prevent people from going on the freeway the wrong way. So very sad. RIP to the young lives lost.
Posted by: Debbie Fogel | January 19, 2011 at 04:09 PM
Sigh...So sad. I just had a family member die in a drunk driving incident last week. To read this was heart wrenching. I saw their pictures on the news and they both were very beautiful people. I'm very sorry for their loss. Their family and friends are in my prayers.
Posted by: Amanda | January 19, 2011 at 11:23 PM
I hope the prosecutors charge this guy with 2 counts of 1st degree murder with special circumstances.
Posted by: TJ | January 20, 2011 at 03:25 PM