The wrong-way driver who authorities say caused the collision on the 210 Freeway in Claremont that killed a 69-year-old Fontana man Monday began her deadly trip by carjacking the pickup with a 2-year-old inside, the California Highway Patrol said.
The CHP on Tuesday, Jan. 23, said Nicole Thibault, 28, of Santa Clarita, dropped off the boy before entering the freeway. Thibault had not been arrested as of Tuesday because she was still hospitalized with major injuries.
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol diverts traffic as investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
California Highway Patrol investigates the scene of a fatal wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway near Mills Avenue in Claremont, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The driver of pickup truck was driving more than 100 mph going the wrong way in the eastbound lanes, which caused several collisions and killed another motorist, according to CHP. (Photo by Rachel Luna, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
“As of last night, she wasn’t doing very well,” said Officer Rodrigo Jimenez, a spokesman for the CHP’s Baldwin Park office, which is investigating the case.
Officials had not publicly announced the name of the dead motorist Tuesday morning.
The others drivers injured were Valvertha Ferguson, 58, of Fontana, who suffered a broken thumb; and Narinder Dhillon, 58, of Upland, who had a complaint of pain. A fifth driver, Emily Castillo, 21, of Baldwin Park, was not reported injured. All were wearing seat belts, the CHP said.
The chaos began about 3:25 p.m. when the owner of a Ford F-150 reported being carjacked at the 7-Eleven at Highland Avenue and H Street with his son inside the pickup. San Bernardino police were still gathering information Tuesday on how the pickup was taken.
Thibault, the CHP said, dropped off the boy at Temple Street and H Street, a little more than a mile south of the report carjacking.
About 3:45 p.m., the CHP began receiving calls of a wrong-way driver traveling west in the eastbound lanes of the 210 in the center median. The CHP said Monday that Thibault entered at State Street; on Tuesday, the CHP said it was uncertain where she entered.
Thibault drove about 20 miles — sometimes at speeds greater than 100 mph — before veering into oncoming traffic and colliding with four vehicles east of Mills Avenue in Claremont, the CHP said.
The CHP asks that anyone with additional information on the incident call Officer Bach at 626-338-1164.
Please accept our sincerest condolences. As you navigate this deeply difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with you, the victims and their loved ones who died in roadway tragedies.
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