Crime & Safety

Suisun City Resident Suspected In Wrong Way Crash

Collision injures two CHP officers near Martinez

By Bay City News Service 

Two California Highway Patrol officers are recovering today after
they were hit by a suspected drunken driver who was going the wrong way on
Interstate Highway 680 in Martinez early Saturday morning, CHP Officer Hector
Baiza said today.
          The crash happened at about 4:30 a.m. on northbound I-680 near the
Marina Vista Avenue onramp just before the toll plaza at the entrance to the
Benicia-Martinez Bridge.
          The suspect, later identified as 45-year-old Suisun City resident
Wayne Wendhall, was driving north on I-680 toward the bridge and had just
passed the toll plaza when he made a U-turn and began driving the wrong way
in the No. 1 lane.
          Meanwhile, two CHP officers in a patrol car were in the same lane
heading toward the bridge.
          They didn't see the suspect's vehicle until the last minute and
"the two vehicles nearly collided head on," Baiza said.
          "Luckily the officers were able to veer toward the left and the
suspect's vehicle hit the right corner and entire right side of the CHP
vehicle," Baiza said.
          Both vehicles became disabled and all three occupants were
transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek with minor injuries.
          The CHP officer who was riding in the passenger seat of the patrol
car sustained the most serious injuries, which included numerous cuts on his
face from broken glass, Baiza said.
          Wendhall was arrested at the hospital on suspicion of felony
drunken driving causing injuries.
          Both of the CHP officers worked in the Martinez CHP office and
each had two years of experience with the department, Baiza said.
          The highway was closed for about an hour and a half while crews
investigated the crash and cleared the wreckage, but because it was so early
in the morning, traffic was not significantly impacted, Baiza said.


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