UPDATE (10:30 a.m.) - Officers say drunk driving is suspected as the cause of a deadly, wrong-way crash that shut down a portion of Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo overnight.
The call came in at around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday for the collision involving five vehicles in the southbound lanes of the highway at Hawk Hill, south of the Cuesta Grade.
According to the California Highway Patrol, David Worthington Ross was driving a GMC Canyon the wrong way in the #1 southbound lane and crashed head-on into a Dodge Charger.
Three other vehicles were also involved in the crash, which blocked both southbound lanes of the highway.
The drivers of the Dodge and GMC were both taken to the hospital to be treated for major injuries.
The right front passenger in the Dodge, a 55-year-old Grover Beach man, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to CHP.
Officers say Ross was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
“Our condolences go out to those directly involved.DUI crashes are 100% preventable, this is a reminder to not and drink and drive,” said San Luis Obispo CHP Commander Captain Mike Brown.
The southbound lanes of the highway were back open by 3 p.m.
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ORIGINAL STORY: California Highway Patrol says a crash shut down parts of Highway 101 overnight.
CHP reported that a truck had been involved in a collision on the southbound side of the highway near Old Stagecoach Road in San Luis Obispo.
It says the crash was reported around 11:15 p.m.
The entire freeway was shut down by 11:45 p.m.
Around 2:40 a.m, CHP says one lane of the highway was re-opened.
CalFire responded to the crash alongside CHP.
CHP reports that both lanes were reopened around 3 a.m.
