Fatal Crash on Highway 101 Southbound South of Chualar on October 12

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. – Monterey California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers responded to a 3-vehicle traffic crash on Highway 101 Southbound, south of the Chualar River Road Overcrossing at 6:49 pm on Sunday night, October 12.

A preliminary investigation indicates that a white KIA SUV, driven by a 41-year-old male from Salinas, was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 101. The Kia SUV was also occupied by 3 passengers. At the same time, a black Honda sedan, driven by a 46-year-old Arizona resident, and a white Toyota sedan, driven by a 29-year-old resident of Salinas, were traveling southbound in the correct direction. The wrong-way Kia SUV first crashed with the Honda sedan, which then led to a secondary crash involving the Toyota sedan.

The drivers of the Kia SUV and Honda sedan sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene, while all 3 passengers in the Kia SUV sustained suspected minor to major injuries and were transported to a local hospital. In addition, the driver of the Toyota sedan sustained suspected minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The identity of the people killed in the crash will be released by the Monterey County Coroner’s Office once next of kin have been notified.

It is unknown if alcohol is a factor in this crash. This crash remains under active investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP encourages anyone with information related to this crash to contact the Monterey Area office at (831) 770-8000 or by email at MontereyCHPTips@chp.ca.gov.

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