AUBURN, Calif. — Police are warning about an increase in wrong-way drivers across the region.
Wrong way crashes have been increasing each year across the state; many of them are alcohol related, according to data from the California Highway Patrol.
Just last week a wrong-way driver who was allegedly under the influence was caught by officer Bryce Bandilla of the Auburn Police Department.
Bandilla says he saw a car without its lights on, flashed his own as a heads up and saw the car take off on the wrong side of the road.
“It was going eastbound on the westbound off ramp of 80. I said ‘oh boy this is not good,’” said Bandilla. “I was thankful I was in the right place at the right time.”
Some situations don’t have witnesses around to immediately call in a wrong way driver before damage happens.
Kate Sherfey lost her mother to a wrong way driver back in April of 2009.
“We’re 14 years later, and I still don’t have the words to describe how it feels. It’s not horror. It’s not darkness. It’s a million times worst than that,” said Sherfey.
Bandilla says last year there were 120 DUI’s in Auburn and there’s already been 50 this year.
“This is a choice. It’s simple. If you are going to drink, plan. Don’t drive. Thankfully that officer was able to save someone the other night in Auburn because someone didn’t have a plan and they made a horrible choice,” said Sherfey.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a drunk driver will drive impaired 80 times before being caught once.
