An East Bay man died and three children riding with him were seriously injured after he drove into oncoming traffic and hit another vehicle north of the Antioch Bridge late Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A second motorist also suffered serious injuries when her car was hit by the wayward driver, described as a 38-year-old San Ramon resident, CHP Officer Mark Leavitt said Monday. The officer added that the San Ramon man is suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, based on accounts from a 15-year-old girl riding with him as well as witness accounts.
The crash was reported at about 10:20 p.m. on Highway 160 between the Antioch Bridge to the south and West Brannan Island Road to the north, Leavitt said.
Witness accounts contend that the San Ramon man, who has not been formally identified by authorities, was driving a Mazda south on Highway 160 and crossed over the double-yellow lines separating directions of traffic, and that his driving was “at a high speed and reckless,” suggesting he was impaired, Leavitt said.
The Mazda then hit a northbound Audi driven by a 70-year-old Rio Vista woman, causing the Mazda to flip over onto its roof. Responding CHP officers and emergency personnel declared the Mazda driver dead at the scene.
Leavitt said a 15-year-old girl riding in the Mazda’s front-passenger seat, and two young boys riding in the backseat, ages 6 and 4, were seriously injured, and that it does not appear that the driver or boys were wearing seat belts. The children were taken to regional hospitals, one of the boys by helicopter. The Audi driver was also taken to an area hospital with serious injuries, and Leavitt said she was last listed in stable condition.
Leavitt said the exact relationship between the Mazda driver and the children in his car was not immediately clear Monday.
Source: www.mercurynews.com