California: Wrong Way Tarick Merssa Dereje suspected of DUI maimed other motorists in crash

Wrong Way Driver San Jose 122916 photo courtesy of NBC Bay Area

From Mercury News:

A wrong-way driver in a silver Volkswagen in San Jose allegedly struck a red Chevy head-on early Wednesday morning, causing a three-way car crash that shut down part of the highway.

A wrong-way driver in a silver Volkswagen in San Jose allegedly struck a red Chevy head-on early Wednesday morning, causing a three-way car crash that shut down part of the highway.

California Highway Patrol Sgt. Ben Grasmuk said the driver of the Volkswagen, who was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, suffered a major injury to her ankle and was taken to the hospital. The driver of the Chevy suffered unknown major injuries, Grasmuk said.

The Golf also spun and came to a stop in the middle of the roadway pointed southbound with traffic, but was soon rear-ended by a 2015 BMW sedan, Lee said.

The driver in the Aveo wreck, a 23-year-old Livermore woman, was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, Lee said. The driver of the Golf, identified as 24-year-old Tarick Merssa Dereje, was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries and is expected to survive.    MORE

Wrong way DUI driver in San Jose Calif. 122916 photo courtesy of NBC Bay Area

From NBC Bay Area

SAN JOSE — Two people suffered serious injuries in a violent three-car crash on Interstate 280 near downtown San Jose early Wednesday, and a wrong-way DUI driver appears to be the culprit, according to the California Highway Patrol.    MORE