SAN DIEGO — A man faces felony charges after he allegedly drove drunk and headed the wrong way on a San Diego County freeway, causing a head-on crash that sent a person to the hospital and shut down traffic lanes.
Around 4:15 a.m., a 28-year-old man from Cardiff in an Audi was spotted heading south on northbound I-15 near Fallbrook, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A short time later, the wrong-way vehicle crashed head-on into a 46-year-old Chula Vista man driving a Toyota who had been heading the right direction on northbound I-15 near Mission Road, CHP reported.
The force of the collision made the Toyota go up in flames, but the driver was able to escape.
CHP officers and firefighters reached the scene and helped both drivers. The man from the Toyota had severe injuries and was taken to the hospital, while the driver of the Audi suffered only minor injuries.
The driver of the Audi, identified by CHP as James Conner McFarland, was suspected of DUI in the crash and was taken into custody on felony charges, officials said.
A SigAlert was issued around 5:15 a.m., shutting down the left two lanes on northbound I-15 near Mission Road. Caltrans San Diego reported that all lanes had reopened by 9:15 a.m.
