A gunshot from a sheriff's helicopter and a subsequent head-on traffic collision left a home-invasion robbery suspect dead and three motorists hospitalized in San Bernardino, where the incident closed a major freeway shortly before the evening commute.

The drama began when deputies tried to arrest the holdup suspect during the lunch hour Friday, Sept. 18, in Fontana.

The resulting pursuit sped through Fontana and San Bernardino at speeds topping 100 mph and ended up with the suspect traveling the wrong way on I-215 north, said Deputy Olivia Bozek.

While the suspect began traveling in oncoming lanes, deputies turned over the chase to a sheriff's helicopter crew, she said.

At some point, Bozek said, at least one shot was fired at the suspect from the helicopter.

The head-on collision happened in northwest San Bernardino at the Little League Drive freeway overpass, and involved the suspect's gray Chevy Yukon and a blue Dodge Durango containing three people who had to be hospitalized.

The suspect managed to get out of the Yukon and walked or ran a short distance before collapsing on the right shoulder of the freeway.

The incident closed all northbound lanes about 1 p.m. at Palm Avenue. About 4:30 p.m., northbound traffic was backed up for 5 miles past I-210.

And sheriff's officials said the closure would linger for many hours.

The closure created havoc for evening commuters and for vacationers planning on an early getaway toward Las Vegas and the Colorado River resorts.

Caltrans warned that Highway 18 through the San Bernardino Mountains to Highway 138 would be crowded Friday by motorists trying to bypass the I-215 closure. Caltrans urged motorists to monitor its Quickmap website at quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

The San Bernardino City Unified School District said in a Twitter message that it will keep students comfortable and safe for parents who will be late in picking them up from school because of the traffic jam.

Staff writer Brian Rokos contributed to this report.