From Bee Staff:
An elderly driver drove the wrong-way on Interstate 80 for nearly 7 miles Wednesday morning before a Placer County deputy was able to stop him, the California Highway Patrol reported.
There were no crashes or injuries but several close calls, a CHP spokeswoman said.
The CHP gave this chronology:
Paul Dawley, 82, of Newcastle, entered the wrong way onto the interstate and started driving in the fast lane near Penryn. CHP Dispatch receives our first 911 call at 9:37 a.m. stating that an elderly man was driving the wrong way on the freeway, driving in the fast lane and using the center divide to avoid oncoming vehicles.
CHP officers attempted to get into position as Placer County Sheriff's deputies also monitored the radio traffic. The errant driver continued eastbound in the westbound lanes as drivers narrowly escaped colliding head-on with the driver.
Eight minutes into the ordeal and seven miles later, Placer County deputy Carol Ramirez was able to stop the driver in the center divide of westbound I-80 near Highway 49.
CHP Mark Williams asked the driver, "Do you realize you were traveling the wrong way on the freeway?" according to the CHP spokeswoman. Dawkins said, "I was looking for a turnaround and couldn't find one."
The spokeswoman said Dawkins' license was taken and he will have to contact DMV for a driver re-evaluation.
"Officers drove the gentlemen home and released his vehicle to his children," the spokeswoman said.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.