CHP: Wrong-way driver arrested, 1 person majorly injured in Highway 101 crash in SLO
A San Luis Obispo man was arrested after he allegedly crashed into two vehicles and seriously injured one person while driving the wrong way on Highway 101 on Wednesday afternoon.
According to a California Highway Patrol news release, Ryan Johnson, 47, was driving northbound in the southbound lanes near Broad Street at approximately 3:42 p.m. when he collided head-on with the front of another vehicle.
An eyewitness told The Tribune a wrong-way driver, later identified as Johnson, had entered the freeway at Broad Street.
Johnson’s car struck a vehicle being driven by Pamela Mays, 78, of Pismo Beach, according to the release. Mays’ car spun clockwise and came to rest blocking the southbound No. 2 lane.
Johnson’s car also spun, then hit the front of a Ram 3500 truck being driven by Abram Ramirez, 38, of Guadalupe. Ramirez’s vehicle was disabled and stuck in the southbound No. 1 lane, according to CHP.
Johnson’s vehicle collided with the guardrail bordering the lanes, where it finally came to a rest.
Johnson then exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot before being detained and subsequently arrested on suspicion of charges of felony hit and run and felony driving under the influence, CHP said.
Mays and Johnson were both taken to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center — Mays with major injuries and Johnson with minor, according to the release.
CHP said drug use is believed to have contributed to the collision. Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Luis Obispo CHP office at 805-594-8700.
The incident significantly snarled traffic through San Luis Obispo on Wednesday evening, with jams in the southbound lane stretching back to the Cuesta Grade.
Northbound traffic meanwhile was slow between Santa Rosa Street and Madonna Road, according to Caltrans QuickMap.
All traffic was cleared as of 6:20 p.m.
This story was originally published December 27, 2023 at 4:24 PM.
