It appears a Soquel man intentionally drove his SUV the wrong way on Highway 17 Monday afternoon causing a head-on crash that killed a 49-year-old woman from Santa Cruz.
According to family members the victim in this horrible case was Anna Luz Barrajas. Barrajas worked at Sutter Medical Center in the hospital's maternity ward. Her shocked family told KSBW that she was a loving mother for her three daughters and 12-year-old son.
The crashed happened near the fishhook that connects Highway 17 to Highway 1 at 3:10 p.m. Monday.
Police said the driver, 29-year-old Eric Weers of Soquel, was not hurt in the crash.
CHP officer Sarah Jackson said a man drove his 2001 silver Acura MDX the wrong way on southbound Highway 17 and slammed into a red 1999 Chrysler Concourse. Both drivers were alone in their vehicles, and no other cars were involved, according to the CHP.
The car driven by Barrajas burst into a fireball moments after impact, witnesses said.
"(Our) investigation revealed the collision was intentional, although the specific targeted vehicle was random," Jackson told KSBW. That means if true, Weers intended to hurt someone and he didn't care who it was.
CHP officers arrested Weers and charged him with murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
KSBW said Weers does not have a criminal history.
