Wrong-way driver loses control of vehicle near Loop 101 and Northern

In the past year, we've had a handful of drivers going the wrong-way on Valley freeways.

On Friday morning, there was another case, but this one was unlike any we've reported.

The Department of Public Safety says it is a miracle that nobody was hurt in this incident.

It happened around 8 a.m. during the peak of rush hour on the Loop 101 in the west valley.

42-year-old Alberto Jauregui is facing numerous charges, after DPS says he drove the wrong way on the 101 in the west valley for about two miles, with his wife who is 9 months pregnant, and their three kids ages 5,7,10.

"We believe we started getting 9-1-1 calls at 7:57 a.m. which is peak rush hour in that area," said DPS Officer Jason Seeger.

Seeger responded to the call.

"I figured at that point we were just going to play chicken, because I knew I was traveling south, and he was traveling north, and we were going to meet in the middle," said Seeger.

DPS says the driver entered the highway the wrong direction at Bethany Home Road. He was driving in the HOV lane, and at some point he flipped around and started heading in the right direction, that is when he exited at Northern.

"The wife and children that were in the car knew he was driving the wrong way, and they told him to get off the freeway and was in a sense causing harm," said Seeger.

There are tire tracks on the west side of the 101 and Northern. This is where DPS says the driver got out of his car and began acting very strangely.

"Witnesses say he stripped down, layed under a tree for a moment, got into the roadway and started telling vehicles to stop," he said.

"He stated he felt like he was losing his mind to a certain extent, and that is how he caused the wrong-way driving," said Seeger.

The driver is now facing charges of endangerment and driving under the influence. DPS says the driver allegedly took some sort of dangerous drug this morning, prior to getting in the car with his family.