CHP
On January 11, 2024, at approximately 2:06 a.m., California Highway Patrol Santa Barbara Area units received calls of a wrong-way driver headed southbound in the northbound lanes of US-101 northbound, near El Capitan State Beach.
Two CHP units positioned themselves in the #1 and #2 lanes of US-101 northbound, south of Dos Pueblos, with emergency lights and sirens activated. The wrong-way driver made no effort to stop and passed by them.
A third CHP unit attempted to stop the wrong way-driver by utilizing the patrol vehicle emergency lights and sirens but was unsuccessful. A fourth CHP unit activated their emergency lights and sirens, and positioned themselves on US-101 northbound, north of Cathedral Oaks in the #2 lane.
As the wrong-way vehicle approached, the CHP officer turned the patrol vehicle and intentionally rammed the wrong way vehicle in order to prevent the vehicle from continuing wrong-way. This action potentially saved the motoring public from possible injuries and/or death.
The driver of the 2019 Toyota was an elderly female, Maria Hernández (born in 1938). She was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for complaint of pain to her chest.
Alcohol and/or drugs are not a factor in the incident. All involved CHP personnel were uninjured.
[Hernández is from Inglewood, CA and is charged with 21651(b), driving on the wrong side of the road, a misdeameanor.]
85, driving at 2 am, ignoring CHP? She should not be driving.
You left out the part about her driving the wrong way on a one-way highway, Captain Obvious.
Just the title I wanted to use yesterday, but was too nice!
We need stricter rules for elderly drivers. Behind the wheel and written tests for anyone over 75. What are the rules now?
Then you first need them for the most dangerous drivers, the 16-24 year old’s or the even more dangerous, 16-20 year old girls.
@Tagdes, it’s actually teen MALES that are the most dangerous.
“The motor vehicle crash death rate for male drivers ages 16–19 years was three times as high as the death rate for female drivers in the same age group in 2020.”
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html
Thanks, ANON. Ol Tagdes there is not one for facts.
Thank you Officer for going above and beyond!! You rock!! senior driver, could’ve messed up a lot of stuff specially that time in the morning