Wrong-way San Jose Highway 85 driver booked into jail

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — A wrong-way driver who plowed into traffic on Highway 85 in San Jose was released from a hospital on Thursday and immediately booked into jail.

California Highway Patrol officers said they transported 39-year-old Duncan McQuarrie directly from the hospital to jail. He was booked on suspicion of: two counts of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, reckless driving, and driving under the influence.

According to the CHP, McQuarrie, of Orlando, Fla., drove his Toyota Tacoma pickup truck southbound within Highway 85’s northbound lanes at 3:40 p.m. on August 26.

Several motorists called 911 reporting a speeding wrong-way driver before McQuarrie crashed head-on into a Tesla Model Y, the CHP said. One witness posted a dashcam video showing the pickup truck in the far left lane moments before the double fatal wreck.

The Tesla’s driver, 47-year-old Rebecca Olsen of San Jose, and her 14-year-old son, Charlie George Olsen, were both killed. McQuarrie was hospitalized with major injuries.

Charlie’s father told KRON4 , “Losing a child is the ultimate nightmare for a parent. He was my best friend.”

“A lot of people have expressed anger at the situation. It feels unfair, yes. I want my son back beyond comprehension,” the father said. Charlie was a freshman who recently enrolled at Summit Tahoma High School. The teen traveled to more than 30 countries before his life was cut short, his family said.

McQuarrie is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday. He is being held in custody with no bail, Santa Clara County inmate records show.

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