MULTIPLE VEHICLE COLLISION: Fatal 101 Crash kills two

September 12, 2010

San Mateo – Two people were killed in a multiple car crash along Highway 101 that started with a car traveling in the wrong direction on early Sunday morning, police said.

According to Sgt. Trent Cross, reports from the California Highway Patrol revealed that around 3:00 am, a red Saturn sedan was spotted traveling north on a southbound lane near Hillsdale Boulevard. The driver of the sedan stopped her car near East Poplar Avenue exit and got out of the car while it was still parked on the roadway.

Unconfirmed reports also indicate that a vehicle hit the wrong-way driver and crashed into the center divider and that a motorcycle may have possibly fallen over the same area near 3rd Avenue exit, though it is still unknown whether it was related to the crash or not.

A passing motorist stopped to help the woman and parked his vehicle on the southbound lane. At about 4:15 am, a black limousine struck the two, sending them onto the northbound lane. Both were hit by vehicles traveling on the said lane, where they were later pronounced dead. Cross said that the limousine was traveling at least 65 mph when the accident happened.

The San Mateo County coroner’s office identified the two as Steven Pereira, 26, and Stacy White, 39. White, who was driving the red sedan, was believed to be under the influence.

Investigators closed most of Highway 101’s lanes for more than 14 hours during the investigation, but remained one southbound and one northbound lane open.