Early Morning, Wrong-Way Crash Closes Westbound Highway 24 In Orinda Sunday; 2 Dead, 5 Injured

Two people were killed and five others injured – some critically – in a crash on westbound Highway 24 at Wilder early Sunday with the California Highway Patrol eventually closing down the freeway to facilitate rescue efforts.

Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District firefighters worked to free four people from the wreckage of a multi-car crash. An air ambulance and a California Highway Patrol helicopter were summoned to help with transportation of the injured, a REACH air ambulance brought in to land directly on the freeway.

Witnesses said one vehicle was reportedly seen traveling the wrong way on the highway just prior to the crash, reported at 1:54 a.m. Police were investigating the possibility that alcohol may have been involved.

Emergency resources were further taxed by a subsequent injury accident, reported at 2:20 a.m. on northbound I680 at Willow Pass Road in Concord with at least one person requiring extrication at that scene.

UPDATE from the CHP:

Today at about 1:52am, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a two vehicle head on collision on HWY-24 westbound, between Fish Ranch Road and Wilder Road. Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, a silver Saturn Vue and a black Toyota Camry had collided head-on and the one male passenger from the Saturn was pronounced deceased on scene. The male driver of the Saturn was transported to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek where he was initially listed with major injuries, but was later pronounced deceased also. All five males within the Toyota Camry were transported to local area hospitals with major injuries.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroners Office will be handling the release of identity for the deceased individuals. 

In the initial investigation, it appears that the driver of the Saturn (35yr old male from an unknown city at this time and his male passenger-John Doe) was driving wrong way on Hwy-24, going eastbound in the westbound lanes between Fish Ranch Road and Wilder Road. At that same time, the driver of the Toyota (25yr old male from Daly City) was driving in the westbound direction on Hwy-24 with his four male passengers (not all passengers have been identified yet but all appear to be in their 20s) when the vehicles collided head-on, causing catastrophic damage.

The passenger of the Saturn (John Doe) was pronounced deceased on scene. The Saturn driver was transported to to John Muir hospital but was also pronounced deceased. The driver of the Toyota was transported by helicopter to Kaiser hospital in Vacaville with major injuries. All four other passengers of the Toyota were transported to local hospitals with major injuries as well. The highway was partially shut down for investigation and the helicopter landing for transport.

Alcohol and/or drugs are suspected to be a contributing factor with the driver from the Saturn in this collision. The victim driver of the Toyota is not suspected of alcohol or drugs. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980, as additional information may be helpful in this investigation.