CHP: SF Woman Drove on Wrong Side of Hwy. 101 Near Landfill, Nearly Hit Dozens of Cars

A San Francisco woman was arrested on suspicion driving under the influence after she drove on the wrong side on Hwy. 101 near the Redwood Landfill early Friday morning, nearly hitting dozens of cars in the process, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Sofia Bridgette Kalaveras, 46, was heading southbound in the far left lane of northbound Hwy. 101, as well as the center divider, when CHP officers were called to the scene at around 12:10 a.m. Friday, CHP officer Andrew Barclay said.

The first CHP officer to arrive turned on his emergency lights and began a traffic break to slow down the cars heading directly at the driver going the wrong way, Barclay said. The officer spotted a number of cars swerving hard to the right to avoid the Camry, he said.

The Camry continued onward, and the officer stopped his car, with emergency lights on, directly in front of the oncoming Camry, Barclay said. The driver veered to the right when she got close to the CHP car, driving entirely in the center divider lane and nearly hitting the CHP car. The Camry was traveling at around 45 mph, Barclay said.

“This person almost collided with dozens of cars last night in addition to a CHP vehicle with every single light on it flashing,” Barclay said.

The officer then made a U-turn at San Antonio Rd. and headed south in the southbound lanes, driving parallel to the Camry, as were several other CHP officers.

They drove parallel to the car for about a half-mile “before it slowed enough that they were able to exit their vehicle, jump over the center divider, and enter the unlocked passenger door, where they turned the vehicle off and removed the keys,” Barclay said. Kalaveras was arrested at 12:40 a.m.