North Hollywood Man Arrested in Wrong-Way Crash that Seriously Injured 4 Teens

NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - A North Hollywood man who drove the wrong way on a Fresno County road today, causing a head-on crash that sent four people to a hospital, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, authorities said.

Albert Machado, 26, was driving a 2011 Infiniti the wrong way on Friant Road south of Lost Lake Road in Friant about 3:10 p.m. when it collided with a 2001 Saturn carrying four people -- a man and two women, all 18, and a 17-year- old whose gender was not disclosed, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A sheriff's deputy responded to the report of a wrong-way driver and saw the suspect coming, the CHP reported.

The deputy avoided a collision, turned around and was attempting to overtake the Infiniti when the car struck the southbound Saturn, which was driven by an 18-year-old man.

The Saturn driver and three passengers suffered major injuries and were taken to a hospital, according to the CHP, which reported that Machado, who was not injured, was booked at the Fresno County jail on suspicion of "several felony violations."

City News Service