CHP rams Highway 101 wrong-way driver near Central Coast beach

California Highway Patrol officers used their vehicle to ram a wrong-way Highway 101 driver early Thursday morning after multiple attempts to stop the car, the agency said.

The CHP Santa Barbara Office received calls about a wrong-way driver headed southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 101 around 2:06 a.m. near El Capitan Beach on the Gaviota Coast.

Officers made multiple attempts to stop the driver by using lights, sirens and blocking the roadway until they intentionally rammed into the driver to stop them from continuing down the highway, CHP Officer Jon Gutierrez said.

The wrong-way driver, 85-year-old Maria Hernández from Inglewood, was driving a 2019 Toyota. She was transported to the hospital with complaints of pain to her chest after the CHP officer rammed her vehicle, Gutierrez said.

Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be involved in the incident, he said.

No CHP officers or other drivers were injured in the incident.

When the CHP initially responded to the call, two officers positioned themselves in both lanes of northbound Highway 101, south of Dos Pueblos Canyon Road. Hernández reportedly drove past the officers and made no effort to stop, Gutierrez said.

Another CHP unit tried to stop the vehicle by using a patrol car with lights and sirens turned on, but was unsuccessful.

A final CHP unit activated emergency lights and sirens and positioned themselves on Highway 101 northbound, north of Cathedral Oaks.

As Hernández approached the officers, they intentionally turned the patrol vehicle and rammed into Hernández’s vehicle to stop her from continuing to drive in the wrong direction, according to Gutierrez.

— Noozhawk staff writer Rebecca Caraway can be reached at rcaraway@noozhawk.com.

This story was originally published January 12, 2024 at 11:15 AM with the headline "CHP rams Highway 101 wrong-way driver near Central Coast beach."