2 officers injured when DUI suspect drives into path of CHP car on Hwy. 101
A San Luis Obispo County man suspected of driving drunk pulled onto Highway 101 near Paso Robles directly into the path of an oncoming patrol car, causing a crash that injured two officers late Sunday night, the California Highway Patrol said in a news release.
At approximately 10:49 p.m. on Sunday, two CHP officers were driving south on Highway 101 north of Wellsona Road when another car, driven by a 36-year-old man from Paso Robles, drove across the highway east on Wellsona directly into the path of the patrol vehicle, the news release said.
The Wellsona crossing is one of the deadliest in SLO County because it crosses highway traffic going at full speed. Caltrans is currently in the midst of a project to build a long-awaited underpass at the location.
The CHP officer who was driving the patrol car braked but was unable to stop and crashed into the driver side door of the oncoming car, the release said. The officers were driving at the speed limit, the release said.
The officers were wearing seat belts and sustained what were believed to be minor injuries from the crash, the release said.
The other driver, who was unrestrained, was transported to Adventist Health Sierra Vista hospital in San Luis Obispo to be treated for suspected minor injuries.
He was later booked into the San Luis Obispo County jail on suspicion of a felony charge for driving under the influence of alcohol.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 11:32 AM.
