A suspected drunk driver was taken into custody after a wrong-way, head-on crash on U.S. Route 395 near Bordertown late Sunday, a wreck that left the other motorist clinging to life and shut the highway down overnight. The collision happened just before 11:15 PM about two miles north of Bordertown, near the California–Nevada state line. The Subaru driver was flown to a nearby hospital in critical condition, while the driver of the Nissan Rogue suffered only minor injuries. Northbound U.S. 395 was closed for investigators and reopened in the early morning hours.
According to 2 News Nevada, the California Highway Patrol reported that a southbound Nissan Rogue entered the northbound lanes and slammed head-on into a northbound Subaru Impreza. CHP officers say they tested the Nissan driver and arrested that motorist on suspicion of DUI. Investigators said the Subaru driver was airlifted to a nearby hospital with critical injuries, while the Nissan driver escaped with minor injuries.
Where this happened
Bordertown sits where U.S. 395 drops from Upper Long Valley in Sierra County into Cold Springs and the Truckee Meadows north of Reno. Local reporting describes Bordertown as a formal entry point on U.S. 395 and a common traffic chokepoint, per Carson Now. That geography helps explain why incidents at the state line can quickly ripple through traffic in both directions.
Recent crashes on U.S. 395
This stretch of U.S. 395 has seen serious wrong-way collisions before. On Feb. 15, a wrong-way driver caused a fiery head-on crash near the state line that killed both motorists, according to reporting by The Mountain Messenger. Agencies, including the CHP and Sierra County Sheriff's Office, responded to that scene, and investigators continue to study factors behind these crashes.
Legal next steps
Because the crash reportedly produced serious injury, prosecutors could pursue charges that go beyond a routine DUI. Under California law, Vehicle Code §23152 makes driving under the influence unlawful and §23153 covers DUI that proximately causes bodily injury. Those sections and related penalties are laid out on the state's code pages. If prosecutors file an injury DUI, penalties can include prison time and license suspension as described in the code, per California Legislative Information.
CHP urged motorists to slow down, put on hazard lights and call 911 if they encounter a wrong-way driver, guidance cited in local coverage by 2 News Nevada. This story will be updated as law enforcement or prosecutors release additional details.
