Wrong-Way Driver Slams Into Freeway Divider, Is Killed

A driver speeding the wrong way on the Orange Freeway Friday morning was killed when she slammed through a center divider, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The lone driver, identified as Danielle Rosemary Monarrez, 19, of Diamond Bar died instantly when her Honda Civic hit a center divider south of the Yorba Linda Boulevard exit at 1:20 a.m., Officer Angel Johnson said.

Johnson said that Monarrez left the northbound lanes of the freeway at Lambert Road in Brea, then turned around and entered the freeway heading south in the northbound lanes. The freeway was not crowded. Monarrez went about 2 1/2 miles toward Fullerton, hitting speeds as high as 80 m.p.h. Monarrez slammed head-on into the center divider, the CHP said.

Her car was then struck by a white Mercedes-Benz, which continued on, Johnson said. Investigators do not believe the second crash contributed to Monarrez’s death but they would like to talk to driver of that car, who has not been identified.