Santa Clara, CA – Two Men Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on Montague Expressway

California Vehicle Code 21650 requires drivers to stay on the right half of the roadway except in specific, defined circumstances, and it is the core statute used to establish fault when a wrong-way driver crosses into oncoming traffic. Investigators in wrong-way collisions typically examine whether the at-fault driver entered a highway or expressway from the wrong direction, whether signage or lighting played a role, and whether impairment contributed to the error. A violation of this statute can be strong evidence of negligence in a civil claim brought by surviving family members. Because wrong-way crashes are frequently high-speed, head-on impacts, the resulting injuries and property damage tend to be severe.

When a crash like this one proves fatal, California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60 allows a surviving spouse, children, and other qualifying heirs to bring a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. These claims can seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of the deceased’s care, comfort, and companionship. Liability may extend beyond the driver to any party whose negligence contributed to the crash, and evidence such as dashcam footage and witness accounts often helps establish how the wrong-way movement began. An experienced attorney can help families understand their rights during an active police investigation like this one.