An intoxicated Santa Cruz man lost control of his car and careered into a Scotts Valley man’s truck, blocking both northbound lanes on Highway 17 for much of the afternoon Saturday, Jan. 30.
The extensive damage to both vehicles caused the closure of both northbound lanes for about 1½ hours, as police slowly funneled traffic around the crash until the highway was reopened.
However, northbound traffic was still backed up beyond Scotts Valley for more than an hour after the lanes were cleared.
Suhail Grewal, 24, of Santa Cruz, was driving his 2008 Honda Civic southbound on Highway 17, north of Old Santa Cruz Highway, at 3:46 p.m. He was traveling about 60 miles per hour in a 50-mph zone, California Highway Patrol officer Sarah Jackson said.
At the same time, 26-year-old Andrew Cavaletto of Scotts Valley was driving about 55 mph northbound on Highway 17 in his 2009 Toyota Tacoma.
Grewal, who officials have said was drunk, veered to the right and hit a dirt embankment on the side of the road. The Honda then spun out of control into the northbound traffic lanes, skidding into the front of Cavaletto’s truck. The CHP did not release Grewal’s blood alcohol content.
Cavaletto tried to steer out of the way but was unable to avoid a collision, Jackson said.
Two of Cavaletto’s four passengers had moderate injuries and were taken to Valley Medical Center in San Jose. Cavaletto was uninjured.
Grewal, who was driving alone, was the most seriously hurt. He was airlifted to Valley Medical Center.
The sky was clear and the roadway was dry at the time of the accident, according to the CHP.
Once he was treated and medically cleared, Grewal was taken to Santa Cruz County Jail and booked on suspicion of felony driving under the influence that caused an injury.
