Head-On Crash Caused by Wrong-Way Maserati
On the afternoon of Monday, September 13, 2021, a crash on northbound I-5 in Siskiyou County led to one death and two other people suffering injuries, according to authorities with the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Just before 12:30 p.m. on Monday, a 2012 Maserati was traveling south on I-5 northbound, which caused a head-on crash with a pick-up on the Klamath River Bridge. Despite lifesaving efforts performed by first responders, the violent impact resulted in the death of the wrong-way Maserati driver. Two other people suffered significant injuries.
Further Details of the Incident
When CHP officers arrived at the scene to begin their crash investigation, they determined that the driver of a 2012 Maserati sedan had been driving in a southerly direction on I-5 within the northbound lanes. The Maserati was noted to have been traveling at a speed not yet determined. During that same time, a 2016 Ford F-250 was traveling northbound on I-5 at approximately 65 miles per hour.
According to authorities, the driver of the Ford truck saw the Maserati approaching and attempted to avoid the collision by swerving into an adjacent lane. The driver of the Maserati swerved in the same direction as the truck and the two vehicles crashed head-on.
The Human Toll of the Crash
Despite lifesaving efforts performed by first responders, the wrong-way Maserati driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Two occupants of the Ford F-250 sustained major injuries. They were transported from the scene to a nearby hospital by Mount Shasta Ambulance.
Traffic Control After Wrong-Way Maserati Crash
While the first responders were attending to the scene, officers from the CHP diverted traffic off of Interstate 5 at Highway 96. From there, motorists could bypass the bridge and re-enter the freeway north of the accident site. Shortly after 3:30 p.m., I-5 northbound was reopened, according to information released by Caltrans.
The Investigation Continues
The crash is still being investigated by the Yreka Area Office of the CHP. Officer Golden of that office has requested that anyone who witnessed the crash or events leading to the crash please call (530) 842-0530.
Could the Crash Have Been Intentional?
The information discussed in this section is in no way intended to imply that the crash was intentionally caused by the wrong-way Maserati driver. We are just pointing out that the circumstances of this deadly crash are somewhat unusual. Most of the time, when a driver causes a crash by traveling in the wrong direction, it happens in darkness and is the result of driver confusion or impairment. This crash occurred in the middle of the day. Another concerning piece of information is that the wrong-way Maserati driver swerved in the same direction as the Ford truck that was trying to avoid the crash. This fact is not necessarily indicative of the crash being intentional, but it is curious. Evasive maneuvers require split-second decisions, so it is entirely possible that both drivers were attempting to avoid the collision, but unfortunately, chose the same direction in which to swerve.
The information released thus far does not indicate that drugs or alcohol were involved. Any witnesses to events leading up to the crash or reports from anyone who had contact with the Maserati driver earlier in the day will also be helpful in determining what caused this tragic Interstate 5 collision.
Watch the YouTube video. The report below, uploaded by ABC News, examines the dangers of wrong-way driving.
Yreka Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello, and thank you for reading. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Yreka personal injury attorney. Wrong-way crashes on the highway are terrifying, because they are often deadly, such as in this case. The speeds are high, and there is usually very little – if any – time to avoid the crash. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another motorist’s carelessness or recklessness, call us for compassionate, free, and friendly advice at (530) 392-9400. From outside the local area code, please use our toll-free line: (800) 404-4500.
Photo: by Lincoln Group via Pixabay
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