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SALT LAKE CITY — A wrong-way crash on I-80 early Sunday morning left one person in critical condition and another in custody for suspected DUI.
According to the Utah Highway Patrol, police received reports of a Nissan Versa traveling the wrong way on I-215 east near 5500 South about 3 a.m. Sunday.
Police said the driver of the Nissan, Eliza VanOorman, 34, of Bountiful, entered I-80 traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes. They said that at about 2300 East on I-80, Van Orman's car hit a full-size Dodge van head-on.
Andrew Neilson was driving his wife to work when they "just saw headlights coming toward us."
"Luckily for my wife and I, we avoided being hit, but the person behind us — not so lucky," Neilson said.
He said the Nissan came within a foot or two of his car as he swerved.
"I heard a big collision, looked in my rearview, saw sparks, saw a little bit of smoke, saw a head-on collision that I managed to avoid," Neilson said.
Neilson said he called 911 as soon as he could stop safely.
According to investigators, Van Orman was transported to the University of Utah Hospital in fair condition. She was later arrested for DUI, police said.
The driver of the Dodge van, Christopher Sideris, 21, of Salt Lake City, was transported to the same hospital in critical condition. Police said he was not wearing his seat belt, which was a factor in the severity of his injuries.
Drivers who notice a vehicle traveling the wrong way should pull to the nearest shoulder and get completely off the roadway, police said, then call 911.
Contributing: Sandra Yi
*Email: dchen@deseretnews.com Twitter: DaphneChen_ *
