2 wrong-way drivers killed in separate Fort Worth crashes

FORT WORTH, Texas - Two people were killed in separate wrong-way crashes in Fort Worth overnight.

The first crash happened just before 1 a.m. Thursday on Highway 114 near Westlake Parkway.

Fort Worth police said a Toyota Highlander driving the wrong way hit an 18-wheeler head-on in the eastbound lanes.

The driver of that Toyota died at the scene. A passenger in the SUV was unharmed.

"There was a passenger in that vehicle as well, I think they were Care Flighted, or they tried to Care Flight, but Care Flight was not able to take them due to the weather. They were taken to the hospital," said Fort Worth Police Spokesperson Tracy Carter.

The eastbound lanes of Hwy. 114 were closed for several hours on Thursday morning.

The second crash happened around 2:30 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 30 near Cherry Lane.

The driver of an SUV was going the wrong way on the freeway and died in a head-on collision.

FOX 4 Traffic reporter Chip Waggoner said the crash involved an 18-wheeler that spilled fluid and scattered debris on the interstate.

The highway reopened after a 6-hour shutdown.

It is unclear thus far if alcohol or drugs played a part in either crash.

TxDOT has responded to the two incidents with information about its efforts to prevent what happened.

"TxDOT's Fort Worth District has installed a variety of wrong way countermeasures throughout our district, including portions of I-30, SH 360, West Loop 820, as well as the SH 114/SH 26 interchange. Additionally, future countermeasures are planned," they said.

Fort Worth traffic investigators continue their efforts to determine what triggered the two similar fatal accidents within three hours.

"To see that, to actually work those scenes, it’s very disheartening, and we pray for them, pray for the families," said Carter.