Wrong-way, Incoherent, Drugged Driver Caught on Marin's Highway 101: CHP

MARIN COUNTY, CA- A man who was seemingly so drugged-up that he couldn't even stand, was caught driving the wrong direction on Highway 101 near San Rafael, California Highway Patrol officials say.

According to CHP Officer Andrew Barclay, the Mendocino County man was first spotted around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday— headed northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 101 in the area of Lucas Valley Road.

"The vehicle was observed entering the truck scales while driving wrong way toward a group of trucks waiting to drive through the scale facility," Barclay said.

Though someone at the scales tried to flag down the driver and get his attention, the man kept going, Barclay said.

"The vehicle continued past the scale house and toward the exit of the facility when another CHP officer happened to be pulling into the scale entrance," Barclay said. "The officer immediately activated his vehicle’s emergency lighting and blocked the vehicle’s exit."

Peter Cerrutti, 49, of Willits, was contacted, but CHP officers had a difficult time understanding the man, according to the deputy.

"Cerrutti continuously made nonsensical statements about what he was doing, however he stated he had decided to make a u-turn on the freeway to drive through the scale facility," Barclay said. "Cerrutti was so impaired that he was unable to stand on his own and could not coherently speak with officers."

Officers had the man transported to a local hospital, where it was determined he was on drugs. He was arrested, but released to the care and custody of the hospital, according to the CHP.

Barclay said the arrest of Cerrutti serves as a reminder to keep your eyes on the road and avoid distractions, as you never know what may be out there.

"Although we tend to warn people of the dangers of distracted drivers around them, this serves to show that reducing distractions while you are driving may save your own life. Anything from debris in the road, to stopped traffic, to wrong way drivers in the middle of the day can seemingly come out of nowhere as you are traveling down the road."