HOUSTON – A wrong-way driver collided with a private ambulance on the Westpark Tollway, leaving two people dead and two others injured, authorities with the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s office said.
The crash happened Saturday morning in the eastbound lanes around 4:45 a.m. near Fondren Road.
Pct. 5 deputies believe the wrong-way driver in a black Chevrolet Equinox was likely speeding and missed multiple illuminating “wrong way” signs.
Paramedics pronounced two people from each vehicle dead at the scene, however, it was unclear which vehicle they were in.
One person from the wrong-way vehicle is in critical condition. It was unknown if they were wearing seatbelts prior to the crash.
Pct. 5 deputies said there was no patient inside the ambulance at the time of the crash.
Based on the location of the crash and time between calls, investigators believe the Equinox driver may have gotten on the tollway through the Fondren exit ramp.
There are sensors on the ramps to inform authorities about wrong-way drivers, but investigators say no alerts were sent.
Pct. 5 Constable’s Office said ramp sensors are tested once and sometimes twice a month.
Right now, they’re looking into whether the sensors malfunctioned or if the wrong-way driver got on at some other point.
The names of those involved in this wreck have not been released.
The Harris County Pct. 5 Constable’s office had a meeting with Harris County Toll Road officials and asked them to comb through video to determine the exact point things went wrong.