A 76-year-old man driving the wrong way on Interstate 5 on Sunday struck another vehicle, seriously injuring himself and killing his 74-year-old passenger.
The California Highway Patrol reported that James T. Hoffman, of Burlington, Wa., was driving a Toyota Prius southbound in the northbound lanes of I-5 near Arbuckle around 9:15 PM when he slammed into a Dodge Minivan, driven by Aimee Cantero, 41, of Shingletown.
According to the CHP, Cantero said she saw the headlights of the oncoming car too late to take evasive action.
Cantero, who received moderate injuries in the collision, was transported to Rideout Hospital in Marysville, along with her passenger, 40-year-old Peter Cantero, who received major injuries.
The wrong-way driver received major injuries and was taken to Enloe Medical Center in Chico for treatment. Hoffmans wife, Charlotte, who was riding in the front passenger seat, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The CHP said drugs or alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the cause of the accident.
Both northbound lanes were closed for about 90 minutes for initial extrication operations, medical care, and clean up, the CHP said. –