A suspected drunk driver crashed head-on into a car on westbound state Route 52 Friday morning, leaving one person dead and causing an hours-long traffic back-up, the California Highway Patrol said.
A 23-year-old woman is believed to have been under the influence when she drove her truck the wrong way on westbound SR-52 just east of Interstate 805, CHP spokesperson Jess Matias said.
At about 2:45 a.m., her gray Chevy pickup truck was traveling eastbound in westbound traffic lanes when she crashed into a red Honda sedan, according to the CHP, leaving it mangled and killing the 49-year-old El Cajon man behind the wheel. He has not been identified yet.
The driver sustained minor injuries and was briefly hospitalized prior to being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Matias said.
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The grisly crash left westbound SR-52 near I-805 closed for hours, causing traffic back-up during Friday's morning commute.
All lanes were reopened by 8 a.m., according to the CHP, which is continuing to investigate the crash.
The name of the crash victim is being withheld pending family notification.
