News

Woman killed, teenager severely injured in wrong-way crash in Woodside

Wrong-way driver arrested, taken to Stanford with minor injuries; CHP says it is unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role

One person was killed and two others were injured in a wrong-way collision on Interstate Highway 280 south of state Route 92 in Woodside on Saturday afternoon, April 22, the California Highway Patrol said.

Traffic is heavy along Interstate 280 south of State Route 92 Saturday following a wrong-way crash at around 4 p.m. that killed one person. Courtesy Google Maps.

A white Ford sedan driving north in the southbound lanes of Highway 280 crashed head-on into a black BMW SUV at about 2:38 p.m., California Highway Patrol said.

The BMW's driver, a 54-year-old San Francisco woman who the San Mateo County Coroner's Office identified as Eden Palmer, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 14-year-old boy, who was in the front passenger seat of the SUV, was taken to Stanford Medical Center with major injuries, authorities said. His name was not disclosed.

"The female who was killed at the scene was related to the juvenile that was riding with her in the BMW," said Arturo Montiel, California Highway Patrol-Redwood City public information officer.

The driver of the white Ford sedan was identified as Constellatia Martin, a 24-year-old Campbell resident, according to the California Highway Patrol. Martin reportedly undressed and got out of the Ford, according to the highway patrol. She was arrested and taken to Stanford Hospital with major injuries, police said.

Help sustain the local news you depend on.

Your contribution matters. Become a member today.

Join

"She was nude and when the officers approached her, they detained her," Montiel said.

Charges against Martin will be announced when she is released from the hospital and booked into jail, said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

It is currently unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, the California Highway Patrol said.

Stay informed

Get the latest local news and information sent straight to your inbox.

Stay informed

Get the latest local news and information sent straight to your inbox.

Redwood City Pulse Editor Michelle Iracheta contributed to this story.

Looking for more Redwood City stories? The RWC Pulse will be your new source of vital news and information. Sign up to be among the first to get our daily local news headlines sent to your inbox for free.

Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more.

Get uninterrupted access to important local law enforcement news. Become a member today.

Woman killed, teenager severely injured in wrong-way crash in Woodside

Wrong-way driver arrested, taken to Stanford with minor injuries; CHP says it is unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role

by Avery Luke / Redwood City Pulse

Uploaded: Sat, Apr 22, 2023, 4:57 pm
Updated: Mon, Apr 24, 2023, 5:15 pm

One person was killed and two others were injured in a wrong-way collision on Interstate Highway 280 south of state Route 92 in Woodside on Saturday afternoon, April 22, the California Highway Patrol said.

A white Ford sedan driving north in the southbound lanes of Highway 280 crashed head-on into a black BMW SUV at about 2:38 p.m., California Highway Patrol said.

The BMW's driver, a 54-year-old San Francisco woman who the San Mateo County Coroner's Office identified as Eden Palmer, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 14-year-old boy, who was in the front passenger seat of the SUV, was taken to Stanford Medical Center with major injuries, authorities said. His name was not disclosed.

"The female who was killed at the scene was related to the juvenile that was riding with her in the BMW," said Arturo Montiel, California Highway Patrol-Redwood City public information officer.

The driver of the white Ford sedan was identified as Constellatia Martin, a 24-year-old Campbell resident, according to the California Highway Patrol. Martin reportedly undressed and got out of the Ford, according to the highway patrol. She was arrested and taken to Stanford Hospital with major injuries, police said.

"She was nude and when the officers approached her, they detained her," Montiel said.

Charges against Martin will be announced when she is released from the hospital and booked into jail, said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

It is currently unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, the California Highway Patrol said.

Redwood City Pulse Editor Michelle Iracheta contributed to this story.

Comments

Native to the BAY
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Apr 23, 2023 at 12:46 am
Native to the BAY, Old Palo Alto
Registered user
on Apr 23, 2023 at 12:46 am

Total utter tragedy. Too many times I travel w my children in m/on this stretch of 28o. Freeways are deadly as are cars.,I am so very sorry for the loss of life .


localmom46
Registered user
Greenmeadow
on Apr 24, 2023 at 7:52 pm
localmom46, Greenmeadow
Registered user
on Apr 24, 2023 at 7:52 pm
Online Name
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Apr 24, 2023 at 8:15 pm
Online Name, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
Registered user
on Apr 24, 2023 at 8:15 pm

I'd like to know why this is considered Palo Alto news -- even granting today was obviously such a slow news day for local news that changes in office hours is a headlined story.


Bystander
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 24, 2023 at 9:48 pm
Bystander, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
Registered user
on Apr 24, 2023 at 9:48 pm

Lots of highway wrong way driver crashes this last few days. This has to be the weirdest story. Who comes out of their car having taken off their clothes? Middle of a Saturday afternoon, some type of mental health issue or dui!


MyFeelz
Registered user
another community
on Apr 24, 2023 at 10:43 pm
MyFeelz, another community
Registered user
on Apr 24, 2023 at 10:43 pm

[Portion removed.]

But the real story here is someone was tragically killed and my questions about that is how can any of us help the victims? Not by making the story about the wrong way driver is one way to start.

I was on 280 at 330 that morning. I can't even remember how one could get from the scramble zone where 92 leads to 280, where it could even be possible to face oncoming traffic. You would have to pull a u-turn on the freeway to end up in the south bound lane going north. The only thing that makes even remote sense is that there is a lot of fresh animals remnants on the highways. Since the roads were washed clean all winter, fresh skidmarks and animal remnants are a sure sign traffic is back to "normal". Whatever the reason for the accident the end result is a tragic loss of life.




Jennifer
Registered user
another community
on Apr 25, 2023 at 8:12 am
Jennifer, another community
Registered user
on Apr 25, 2023 at 8:12 am

When someone is going the wrong way on the freeway, they are probably drunk. If someone is taking off all their clothes, the first thing I think of is mental health issues. [Portion removed.] What a sad story.


Don't miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.

Post a comment

Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed.