4 Killed in Wrong-Way Crash
Not an actual photo of the accident.
Four people are dead following a wrong-way crash in Wilmer, Texas. The crash occurred on Sunday, May 22, at around 11:45 p.m.
The Wrong-Way Crash
On Sunday, May 22, at around 11:45 p.m., Wilmer police officers received a call from Ferris Police officials about a wrong-way crash on Interstate 45. Ferris Police had tried to locate the wrong-way vehicle, but were unable to reach the driver before the collision occurred.
According to police, a woman driving a minivan was heading northbound in the southbound lanes of I-45, while at the same time, an SUV was traveling southbound in the southbound lanes. The SUV was hit head-on by the minivan.
The driver of the minivan, along with her two children, were killed in the head-on collision. The children were one and four years old.
The driver of the SUV was also killed in the crash. Two teenage passengers from the SUV were taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.
Two other vehicles traveling on I-45 were clipped during the collision. The drivers and passengers in those vehicles did not sustain any injuries.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is conducting an ongoing investigation into this event. Part of that investigation is determining whether alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash.
Wrong-Way Crash Statistics
Driving the wrong way can seem like an impossible occurrence for many drivers. This is because most major roads and interstates are clearly marked with wrong-way signs at off-ramps and exits. While many drivers don’t think they’ll ever make that kind of mistake, all it takes is one simple slip-up to end up on the wrong side of the road.
To get a better perspective of wrong-way crashes, here are some statistics from reports done by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:
Between 2015 and 2018, there were 2,008 deaths from wrong-way crashes.
Wrong-way crash deaths increased by 34% from the 2010 to 2014 time period.
Texas had the highest number of wrong-way crash fatalities from 2010 to 2018.
The odds of driving the wrong way increased due to alcohol impairment, old age, and driving without a passenger.
Six out of ten wrong-way crashes involved an alcohol-impaired driver.
Drivers over the age of 70 were at a greater risk of driving the wrong way compared to younger age groups.
Nearly 87% of wrong-way drivers were alone in their vehicles at the time of the crash.
While you may think it could never happen to you, driving the wrong way takes just one simple mistake. Make sure that all distractions are put away when you get behind the wheel of your car, and keep your focus solely on the road. Paying close attention can help you both follow all marked traffic patterns and respond quickly in case you do make a mistake and end up on the wrong side of the road.