Two Killed in Mesquite Wrong-Way Crash

Two drivers were killed on Sunday morning following a fiery wrong-way collision in Mesquite.

The accident occurred on LBJ Freeway when a wrong-way collided with another vehicle head-on.

The wrong-way caught fire when it crashed on Oates Drive in Mesquite.

The wrong-way vehicle was reportedly traveling southbound in the northbound lanes when the incident happened.

Dallas police had tried to get the driver’s attention after being notified around 5:30 a.m. but to no avail. 

The crash led to the closure of the northbound lanes of the freeway and many of its southbound lanes for hours.

The identities of the two deceased victims have not been released as at press time.

Wrong-way or counterflow driving means driving a motor vehicle against the direction of traffic. The most common causes of wrong-way driving are drunkenness, recklessness, and orientation problems, especially with the elderly. Driver error, vehicle malfunction or poor roadway design are also other known causes. 

Wrong-way accidents are uncommon but deadly. According to statistics, they constitute only about 3% of all motor vehicle accidents. However, they are the leading type of motor vehicle accidents to result in a fatality, claiming about 360 lives in the U.S. each year.

Sixty-nine percent of all wrong-way collisions involve drunk drivers. Majority of the collisions occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. 

If you drive on the wrong side, you may be fined for driving recklessly or disobeying traffic signs.

For your own safety, 5 Star Autoplex advises that you move out of the way as quickly as possible when you see a wrong-way driver, and then call 911 and report the driver. If you are driving, it is recommended you keep your eyes on the horizon line.

5 Star Autoplex is a Fort Worth collision center specializing in automotive body, collision, dent and auto hail repairs. They have over 30 years of experience in the auto body repair industry. They are ASE-Certified technicians and among the top U.S. auto body repair shops that have earned the prestigious Gold and Platinum Class I-CAR Certification. They offer customers a lifetime guarantee in all auto body repair services and save them thousands on deductibles through quality and quick service delivery.