A wrong-way driver slammed into a taxi carrying three people on northbound Highway 101 in San Francisco early Thursday morning, leaving all four people dead, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The grisly wreck happened just north of Candlestick Point near Paul Avenue, the CHP said. Just before 12:30 a.m., the CHP received "multiple calls" regarding a possible wrong-way driver. Minutes later, a CHP unit came across the head-on collision.
The CHP said an "impaired" 34-year-old Peninsula woman behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Cabrio was driving southbound in the northbound lanes when she crashed into a Ford Escape taxi carrying a driver and two passengers. Authorities did not immediately elaborate on the wrong-way driver's impairment.
All four people were pronounced dead at the scene, according to CHP Officer Bert Diaz.
The three occupants of the taxi were identified as Berkant Ahmed, 42, of San Mateo, who was driving the cab; Mary Miller, 57, of Chicago; and Judson Bergman, 62, of Chicago, according to the San Francisco coroner's office.
The wrong-way driver was identified as Emilie Ross, 34, of Hillsborough.
It appears one taxi passenger was ejected during the crash, according to Diaz. The CHP is trying to determine if the people in the taxi were using seat belts.
U.S. & World
All northbound lanes of the highway were shut down after the crash. Two lanes reopened just before 5 a.m. The remaining lanes reopened around 7 a.m.
