Driver in deadly wrong-way DUI crash on Hwy 85 that killed woman, teen boy faces murder charges
The driver in the fatal wrong-way DUI collision that killed a woman and her 14-year-old son on State Route 85 last week was released from the hospital Thursday and booked into jail on multiple charges including two counts of murder, authorities said.
The crash happened on Monday, Aug. 26, when the driver of a white Toyota Tacoma that was speeding in the wrong direction on northbound Highway 85 near Saratoga Avenue in South San Jose crashed head-on into a Tesla. The woman driving the Tesla and a 14-year-old boy passenger died.
Witnesses reported the Toyota was traveling at 80 to 100 mph.
The woman who died was later identified as 47-year-old San Jose resident Rebecca Olsen by the Santa Clara County Coroner's Office. The Santa Clara County District Attorney later confirmed that the teenage boy was her son.
According to a press release issued by the San Jose office of the California Highway Patrol the driver in the crash -- identified as 39-year-old Orlando resident Duncan McQuarrie, was released from the hospital and transported to the Santa Clara County Jail Booking facility Thursday afternoon.
McQuarrie was booked at 2:40 PM on two counts of murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, driving under the influence causing injury, reckless driving, and reckless driving causing injury.
On Friday, the Santa Clara County District Attorney issued a press release confirming that McQuarrie would be arraigned on the two counts of murder and other charges Friday afternoon at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.
"This criminally reckless crash destroyed a family. We will do everything in our legal power to make sure he never hurts anyone else again," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in the release.