A 71-year-old woman drove the wrong way on Sunrise Avenue in Roseville on Christmas Day, colliding with a Jeep and resulting in the injuries of five people, police said.
The accident occurred at 11:17 a.m. in the 700 block of Sunrise near Coloma Way, said Dee Dee Gunther, a Roseville police spokeswoman.
The senior, driving a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix sedan, was southbound in the northbound lanes and was seen going on and off the curb and sidewalk, causing oncoming drivers to swerve to miss her vehicle, Gunther said.
After proceeding about a half-mile on Sunrise, the vehicle collided with a 1994 Jeep Cherokee that was exiting a retirement home complex, Gunther said. The Grand Prix then continued on and knocked down a light pole, she said.
The wrong-way driver and her 75-year-old male passenger appeared to have minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Gunther said.
The three occupants of the Jeep - a 56-year-old male driver from Lincoln and two female passengers, ages 56 and 80 - were taken to the same hospital with complaints of minor injuries, Gunther said.
"Fortunately, all of the involved were wearing seat belts, or it could have been much worse," she said.
Gunther said there were no obvious indications of alcohol or drug impairment by the 71-year-old driver.
"She just appeared to be confused," she said.
Gunther said police expect to issue a citation against the driver of the Grand Prix and to request that the California Department of Motor Vehicles to reexamine her driving privileges.
