Wrong-way driver causes fatal crash on NB Hwy 101 in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A wrong-way driver appears to have caused a fatal collision on northbound U.S. Highway 101 in San Jose Friday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP received reports of a wrong-way driver traveling south in the northbound lanes of Highway 101 around 8:30 p.m., according to Sgt. Jason Burke.

Before officers could get into position to intercept the driver, however, the collision with a northbound driver just north of Bernal Road was reported, Burke said.

One driver was found dead at the scene, while the other was transported unconscious to a hospital. Burke said that investigators were still working to determine which vehicle was traveling in which direction at the time of the crash.

Burke said that while investigators have not yet determined the speed the vehicles were traveling at the time of the collision, even at the freeway speed limit of 65 miles per hour, "that's a high speed impact, that's very traumatic."

Traffic is being diverted off the freeway at Blossom Hill Road. Burke said the CHP expected to be cleared from the scene within an hour.

The collision was the second death to occur on San Jose freeways Friday night.

A previous fatal crash involving a motorcycle and a vehicle was reported at 6:47 p.m. on the ramp connecting northbound Interstate Highway 280 to state Highway 17 and Interstate Highway 880, according to the CHP.

That collision blocked the connector ramp but all lanes reopened shortly after 9 p.m., the CHP said.