A Mustang was nearly torn in half Monday after colliding with a semi truck while traveling in the wrong direction on the highway.
The accident happened on October 29th at around 3:00 a.m. in Houston, Texas.
According to KHOU 11, the motorist was traveling south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 45 near Spring Stubner when they collided with an oncoming tractor trailer at the top of a slight hill, which blocked the truck driver’s view of the wrong-way vehicle until it was too late.
The force of the impact sent the vehicles into the HOV lane and nearly tore the Mustang in half, causing “catastrophic damage” and killing the motorist instantly. The truck driver and his passenger were not hurt in the accident, reported Click 2 Houston.
Fatal Accident at North Fwy and Spring Cypress Rd. A Mustang, driving the wrong way (s/b) on North Fwy, struck an 18-wheeler. Driver of the Mustang, an adult male, was confirmed dead at scene. Driver of the 18-wheeler was not injured. @HCSOTexas is on the scene. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/UYznI8WBjw
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) October 29, 2018
Police say they received a call about the wrong way driver only 90 seconds before the impact and that officers are still unsure where exactly the driver first entered the highway incorrectly, though they believe it may have been somewhere near FM 2920, as the first call described.
The northbound lanes of I-45 near Spring Stuebner were shut down for several hours as crews worked to clear debris and diesel fuel from the roadway, but the main lanes have since been reopened.
Heavy wrecker now hooked up to 18 wheeler involved in the wrong way driver fatal accident on I-45 north. pic.twitter.com/QbSC3MAynL
— Jeff Ehling (@JeffEhlingABC13) October 29, 2018
Officers are still working to determine whether or not alcohol was a factor in the crash.