SAN JOSE — A 39-year-old Florida man has been arrested in connection with a wrong way crash last week in San Jose that killed a mother and son, authorities said.
After his release from a medical center Thursday, Orlando resident Duncan McQuarrie was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on charges of murder, aggravated vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, driving under the influence causing injury, reckless driving and careless driving. injury, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Ross Lee.
The fatal collision happened around 3:40 p.m. Aug. 26 in the northbound lanes of Highway 85 just south of Santa Teresa Boulevard.
Prior to the crash, the CHP received reports of a 2024 Toyota Tacoma traveling in the wrong direction. The driver — identified by the CHP as McQuarrie — crashed head-on into a 2021 Tesla Model Y before officers could stop him, according to Lee.
The occupants of the Tesla were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office as 47-year-old Rebecca Joanne Olsen and 14-year-old Charles George Olsenboth in San Jose.
Rebecca was originally from Australia and Charles was born in Britain, the boy’s father Cameron Olsen said in a statement posts on social media days after the fatal collision. Both were avid world travelers and 12-year San Jose residents.
Charles was a gifted child who “took enormous pride” in his knowledge of history and politics, his father said. He had recently started his freshman year at Summit Tahoma High School, skipping a year in math and Spanish.
“He was very, very unique (and yes, I know most parents say that),” Cameron said. “He was my best friend, my traveling companion and the only person I ever truly felt at home with.”
Anyone with information about the case can contact the CHP San Jose Area Office at 408-961-0900.