Monday afternoon a wrong-way driver caused a fatal collision on Highway 85 in San Jose, California.
Around 3:40 pm California Highway Patrol began receiving calls reporting a wrong-way driver on Highway 85. A Toyota Tacoma was heading south in the northbound lanes. Initial reports put the wrong-way driver near Saratoga Avenue.
The driver traveled in the wrong direction for more than 10 minutes, covering more than 7 miles, before colliding head-on with a Tesla Model Y near the Santa Teresa Boulevard exit around 3:51 pm. The occupants of the Tesla, a 47-year-old woman, and a 14-year-old boy, were killed in the collision. The pair has since been identified by the Santa Clara Coroner’s Office as Rebecca Joanne Olsen (mother) and Charles George Olsen (son).
CHP identified the wrong-way driver as Duncan McQuarrie, 39, of Orlando, Florida. He was injured in the collision and hospitalized with major injuries.
A check of McQuarrie’s name in his Florida County revealed he had several traffic infractions, including one misdemeanor for careless driving.
CHP stated that it is unknown whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision.
The Fatal Impact of Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions, though far less frequent than other types of crashes, are disproportionately deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), head-on collisions are the most harmful type of crashes and account for more than 10 percent of all US traffic fatalities each year, and many wrong-way driving incidents end in head-on collisions.
According to preliminary data from the CHP, in 2021, there were 182 injury car crashes caused by wrong-way drivers—nearly double the 98 wrong-way collisions recorded in 2014.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim – Legal Recourse for the Family of the Deceased
The Olsen family may wish to file a wrongful death claim against Duncan McQuarrie, the Tacoma truck driver. Filing a wrongful death claim can allow them to seek compensation for the profound losses they are facing, including funeral expenses, lost income, emotional turmoil, loss of support, and more.
“The loss of the two victims in this crash is tragic, especially because it could have been prevented,” says Gerald Singleton, attorney of Singleton Schreiber, “Wrong-way driving is a serious hazard that often results in devastating consequences, as we see in this case. Families impacted by such incidents deserve justice and accountability for the unimaginable loss. While a successful wrongful death claim will not bring back their loved ones, it may help to ease the financial burdens they face after such a loss.”
If you have lost a loved one in a wrong-way collision, contact the team at Singleton Schreiber to learn more about how we may be able to help you. Call us at (619) 771-3473 or email us at info@singletonschreiber.com to get started today.
