Victims ID'd: 2 Killed In Wrong-Way Crash On I-80

PINOLE, CA — Two people killed in a head-on crash on westbound Interstate Highway 80 in Pinole Monday night were identified by the Contra Costa County coroner's office Tuesday morning as Tyra Chappell, 52, of American Canyon and Frederic Chappell, 76, of Vallejo.

The pair were in a Toyota pickup in the far right lane when their vehicle was hit about 11:40 p.m. by a Chevy Trailblazer that headed the wrong way up the Appian Way off-ramp, authorities said.

The driver of the Trailblazer is hospitalized.

Before the crash, Pinole police spotted the Trailblazer making several illegal maneuvers. The vehicle went on and off the freeway, finally exiting at Appian Way and stopping in the middle of an intersection, where a passenger got out, the CHP said.

Police tried to get the Trailblazer to stop, but it left after the passenger exited. Police didn't pursue the vehicle, but stayed with the passenger, according to the CHP.

Less than a minute after the Trailblazer left, the head-on crash happened, authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol shut down the freeway for hours to clear the wreckage. It has now fully reopened. An air ambulance landed on the freeway, in a bid to save lives.

All lanes of the freeway reopened at 3:35 a.m. Tuesday, and a sig-alert was canceled shortly afterward.

— Patch editor Bea Karnes and Bay City News contributed to this story