In a disturbing turn of events, five people died in a span of less than 48 hours on Interstate 45 near The Woodlands, Texas, which is just north of Houston. All of the fatalities were the result of car accidents caused by wrong-way drivers.
In the first accident, a 19-year-old female and an 18-year-old male passenger, who was riding in the backseat, were killed when a car being driven by a 23-year-old female collided head-on with the victims’ car. A 22-year-old male passenger in the victims’ car had to be taken to a nearby hospital.
– Article By Richard Weaver
The condition of the woman who caused the accident is unknown, but she is currently in jail, facing two charges of intoxicated manslaughter and one charge of intoxicated assault. A conviction for intoxicated manslaughter could mean two to 20 years in prison.
In the second accident, which happened earlier this week, a Malibu being driven by a 43-year-old man on southbound I-45 made a U-turn and began heading the wrong way. The Malibu crashed into another car, killing the female driver and female passenger, while a passenger in the man’s car was also killed. The driver was taken to a hospital and listed in critical condition.
An investigation is ongoing into the second crash to determine if alcohol played a factor in that accident. If that is the case, the man could face three counts of intoxication manslaughter.
A Texas Department of Safety trooper said both crashes are the result of driver error, and that road signs in the area are not confusing, especially not confusing enough to cause people to drive the wrong way or pull U-turns on the interstate. Unfortunately for the drivers, they will now likely be held accountable for their negligent actions.
Source: Montgomery County Courier, “Second fatal head-on collision in The Woodlands; vehicle driving wrong way on I-45 South, three killed,” Ridgway Jr. & Carrie Thornton, July 2, 2012
