Several injured, one arrested in wrong-way crash on Highway 17
LOS GATOS >> Six people were hospitalized and one person arrested after a wrong-way crash early Thursday morning on Highway 17, authorities said.
The California Highway Patrol and the Santa Clara County Fire Department were called to a crash near the Highway 85 junction near Los Gatos at around 1 a.m., said CHP Officer Ross Lee.
A 1995 Jeep Wrangler had been traveling southbound in the northbound lane, Lee said, when it crashed into a 2017 Acura in the fast lane carrying four people. The Jeep flipped over and the driver — who was not wearing a seatbelt — was thrown out of the car and onto the roadway.
The car caught fire and became fully engulfed in the flames, authorities said. Meanwhile, a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle skidded on debris from the first crash and lost control — prompting the motorcyclist to fly off the bike as well.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the car fire upon arrival. The motorcyclist and Jeep driver were transported to the hospital with major injuries; the Acura driver and three passengers sustained minor injuries and were all hospitalized, authorities said.
Upon his release from the hospital, the Jeep driver, identified as Capitola resident Alex Waddle, 33, will be transported to jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, Lee said.
Just last month, a 30-year-old woman from San Jose was killed in a collision after driving more than 5 miles the wrong direction on Interstate 880 and Highway 17.
In the Thursday morning crash, all northbound lanes of Highway 17 were diverted to Lark Avenue between about 1 and 3 a.m.