Husband of Wrong-Way Driver That Killed SDPD Detectives Fears Wife's Medical Condition Caused Crash

Darrell Daniels thinks his wife's blood-sugar levels dropped critically low, leading her into a disorientated state prior to the wrong-way crash

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NBC 7’s Omari Fleming sat down with the wrong-way driver’s husband to talk about what may have led to the crash.

The husband of the woman who drove the wrong way on Interstate 5 and slammed into San Diego Police Department detectives Jamie Huntley-Park and husband Ryan Park, killing them and herself, said he’s extremely sorry for what happened and thinks his wife's illness may have played a role.

“We’re just, you know, racked with guilt. Is there something -- we did everything we could to take care of her and make sure that she was in good health and safe to drive," Darrell Daniels said. "Is there just something we could have done to prevent it? I continue to rack my brain. The last thing we want is for anyone to get hurt. We support law enforcement."

The tragic crash happened Friday morning in San Ysidro. SDPD Chief David Nisleit said the detectives were on a scheduled day off when they were rammed head-on by Daniels' wife near Dairy Mart Road.

The woman was identified by the Medical Examiner's Office on Thursday as 58-year-old Sandra Daniels.

An Escondido neighborhood is honoring two San Diego Police detectives Sunday who were killed by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 5 in San Ysidro. NBC 7's Lauren Coronado has more.

Darrell Daniels, a retired Navy officer, described his wife of 33 years as someone who'd never intentionally harm herself or others.

He said prior to the crash, Sandra Daniels went to Balboa Naval Medical Center to get some insulin. He believes her blood-sugar levels may have destabilized on her trip home, disorienting her.

Darrell said he was shown video of his wife driving against traffic prior to the collision.

"You kind of lose consciousness and basically you're not in control of your faculties, and you kind of get tunnel vision, almost like you're looking through a paper towel tube, that's what you see. You can't really -- you don't have any peripheral vision. And so when I saw her going down the freeway, perfect in that lane, you know, I'm certain that she wasn't seeing the cars going by in the opposite direction,” Daniels explained.

The man, who lives in Ramona, isn't sure why his wife was in the San Ysidro area. He said he's working with law enforcement to get video from the pharmacy released, and he hopes investigators can find her insulin pod in the wreckage to help provide answers.

“Everyone who lives with a diabetic knows that, you know, insulin-dependent diabetics have this fear in the back of their mind that their sugar could drop in a critical moment when, you know, they could hurt themselves or someone else," Daniels said.

Over the weekend, neighbors placed blue ribbons throughout their community and held a memorial to honor the couple.

Darrell Daniels believes that fear was realized Friday, resulting in the deaths of his wife and two married detectives with long lives and careers ahead of them.

He said while he hasn’t spoken to the family, he’d like to apologize to them in person, if they’d allow him.

Friends, family, coworkers and the greater San Diego community have been offering condolences and showing signs of support since the crash.

Huntley-Park was a renowned hockey referee, who USA Hockey's director of officiating said was among the best in the world. Park was advancing quickly through the ranks of the department, according to Chief Nisleit, who had gotten to know Park through running events the department participated in.

A cousin of the couple told NBC 7 they were loving, family-oriented, and loved to poke fun at their friends and family.

SDPD MEDIA SERVICES
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Police officers lead the way to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office on June 4, 2021 in a procession for two SDPD officers killed in a head-on collision in San Ysidro.
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A procession for fallen SDPD Detectives Jamie Huntley-Park and Ryan Park is held on Friday, June 7, 2021.
A procession for fallen SDPD Detectives Jamie Huntley-Park and Ryan Park is held on Friday, June 7, 2021 as a van carries their bodies to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
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Police officers pay respects on June 4, 2021 in a procession for two fellow SDPD officers who were killed in a collision in San Ysidro.
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The procession approaches the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
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A van carrying the bodies of SDPD Detectives Ryan Park and Jamie Huntley-Park approaches the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
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The procession arrives at the Medical Examiner’s Office.
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A vigil is held to honor San Diego Police Department Detectives Ryan Park and Jamie Huntley-Park.
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San Diego police officers pay their respects to their fallen comrades in a remembrance.
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San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria comforts a loved one of SDPD Detectives Jamie Huntley-Park and Ryan Park at a vigil for them.
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Various flowers were placed in honor of the fallen SDPD detectives.
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Supportive community members show up at a vigil to pay their respects to the fallen SDPD detectives.
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Members of the San Diego Angels girls hockey team that Jamie Huntley-Park coached were also among those in attendance at the vigil.
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Signs of appreciation for Ryan Park and Jamie Huntley-Park express love to the fallen SDPD members.
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Blue ribbons are tied to trees to honor the two SDPD detectives who died in a crash.
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