Crime & Safety

Wrong-Way Driver Identified as Soquel Resident, Arrested on Murder Suspicion

The driver in Monday's fatal accident was a 29-year-old man from Soquel.

On Monday afternoon, a man driving the wrong way near the "fishhook" that connects highway 17 and 1 in Santa Cruz crashed into another driver, a 49-year-old Santa Cruz resident, killing her before she could be transferred to a hospital.

For more on the crash, click here.

The wrong-way driver in the silver 2001 Acura MDX has been identified as Eric Weers, 29, of Soquel.  

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While he required no medical attention afterward, he has plenty to worry about in his future. According to the California Highway Patrol, "the collision was intentional, although the specific targeted vehicle was random."

Weers was arrested on murder charges as well as assault with a deadly weapon, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and driving the wrong way on a divided highway. All but the last charge are felonies.

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If convicted, Weers could be sentenced to time in state prison.


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