Five people were killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 4 in Pittsburg early Thursday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Three of the victims were children, the CHP said.
At about 12:10 a.m., officers responded to a report of the collision on westbound Highway 4 just east of the junction at Loveridge Road and issued a Sig-alert closing the westbound lanes.
A Hyundai Elantra with one adult and three children inside was driving the wrong way on westbound Highway 4 and struck a Ford SUV with a solo driver head-on, the CHP said. All five people died at the scene.
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It was not yet known if drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.
If anyone witnessed the crash, the wrong-way vehicle prior to the crash, or the events leading up to the crash, they should contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980.
Drivers say Highway 4 has become more and more dangerous lately.
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"A lot of other people are not paying any attention," Adoru Quareles said. "A lot of them are either texting, a lot of others are reading, a lot of others are last minute turn to the right, left, straight."
Mario Gonzalez says driving defensively is a must on the highway.
"It’s always been like that," he said. "Highway 4 is its own freeway, its own special freeway. People do all kinds of crazy stuff out here. They drive hella fast, they cut people off. There's no blinkers. It's crazy. It’s like a speedway."
Bay City News contributed to this report.
