Carjacking suspect suffers major injuries after crashing on wrong side of I-10

Interstate 10 traffic was backed up in both directions just west of the Highway 62 interchange Friday afternoon after police say a carjacking suspect drove the wrong way against traffic causing a head-on two-vehicle crash.

Palm Springs Police Lt. William Hutchinson confirmed that officers were pursuing Richard Hamilton, 34, of Palm Springs.

Hamilton reportedly failed to yield for a traffic stop after officers saw he was driving erratically then struck a vehicle. No one was injured in this first collision.

Palm Springs Police officers terminated the pursuit just before Hamilton drove onto the interstate westbound in the eastbound lanes.

A spokesperson with the California Highway Patrol confirmed that Hamilton drove westbound against traffic on I-10 before crashing head-on into another vehicle.

The crash was reported at around 3:30 p.m.

Hamilton suffered major injuries while another person from the second vehicle only reported minor injuries.

Palm Springs Police said Hamilton was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The CHP shut down the westbound #1 lane and the eastbound #1 and #2 lanes. Traffic was expected to be slowed for an hour and a half.

A News Channel 3 crew reported heavy traffic backed up along the eastbound freeway lanes, stretching back for nearly a mile.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.