A passenger died Saturday in a head-on collision involving a wrong-way driver on state Route 56, the California Highway Patrol said.
The crash between a silver Honda Civic and a blue Mazda CX-5 happened at about 1:44 a.m. Saturday in the eastbound lanes east of Carmel Country Road, according to CHP Public Information Officer Salvador Castro.
The Honda, driven by a 22-year-old man from San Marcos, was traveling the wrong way, westbound on SR 56, Castro said.
A passenger in the Honda died in the crash, the officer said. The Mazda driver received minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.
The driver of the Honda was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
The eastbound freeway was closed for an investigation of the crash but was re-opened at about 6:10 a.m., the CHP said.
– City News Service
Updated 9 p.m. July 10, 2021