Driver arrested after wrong-way driving accident

SAN MARCOS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A driver was arrested Saturday night following a wrong-way crash on State Route 78 in San Marcos, authorities said.

The situation began to escalate around 11:30 p.m. when reports came in of a possible stabbing in the area of ​​East Orange Street and The Circle in Vista, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.

Officers saw a Honda Accord speeding out of the area, so they attempted to pull over the driver and make a traffic stop. Authorities said the driver refused and sent officers on a chase.

“The driver ran several traffic lights during the chase. Upon reaching Sycamore Avenue, the driver entered SR-78 the wrong way,” the department stated in a news release. “Officers immediately aborted the chase for safety reasons and notified the California Highway Patrol of the car traveling west in the eastbound lanes of Highway 78.)

About 10 minutes later, authorities said they received reports of a traffic accident on SR-78 near Rancho Santa Fe in San Marcos. Witnesses told authorities they saw the driver get out of the car and jump into a ditch near Smilax Road.

Subsequently, officers from the Vista and San Marcos Sheriff’s Stations arrived at the scene and confirmed that the car involved in this accident was the same vehicle that failed to yield during a traffic stop in Vista.

No other cars were involved in the accident.

A sheriff’s dog handler also arrived at the scene and began issuing commands. Shortly thereafter, the driver was arrested without incident and taken to Palomar Medical Center, where he was treated for a leg injury.

The identity of the suspect was not immediately released.

The initial report of a fight and stabbing in Vista was unfounded, the department said.

Since the collision occurred on SR-78, CHP is taking over the investigation.