A wrong way driver on Highway 99 caused a collision Monday night that killed his passenger, injured two others and sent him to the hospital.
The deceased was identified as Jimmy Guerrero, 31, of Delhi. He was a passenger in a 2016 Toyota Camry driven by Evan Garcia, 35, of Delhi.
The collision happened around 11:30 p.m. Monday on southbound Highway 99, near the Shanks Road off-ramp.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Garcia was driving northbound on the southbound lanes. He drove past a CHP patrol assigned to a Caltrans project and they made attempts to stop him.
Garcia traveled several miles in the wrong direction before crashing head-on into a 2017 Toyota Corolla.
The collision caused the Corolla to overturn and resulted in the driver, Kou Xiong, 30, of Winston, sustaining major internal injuries. He was rushed to Doctors Medical Center.
The impact sent the Camry across both lanes where it struck a 2012 Honda Civic, driven by Guillermo Benitez, 33, of Livingston. Benitez had minor injuries and was treated at the scene, according to the CHP.
The second collision caused the Camry to overturn near the off-ramp and immediately it burst into flames.
The CHP officers were able to reach Garcia and free him from the burning wreckage, but the flames were too intense and spreading too quickly to reach Guerrero.
Guerrero was pronounced dead at the scene.
Garcia had major internal injuries and rushed to Doctors Medical Center.
A blood alcohol level for Garcia was not available, but according to the CHP he did admit to consuming multiple alcoholic beverages.
Once released from the hospital Garcia will be charged with felony drunk driving causing death and/or great bodily injury.
The collision remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the CHP office at 356-6600.