In a tragic reminder of the dangers of high-speed motorway incidents, two people have lost their lives early yesterday morning when their Tesla Model S crashed into a concrete barrier on Highway 288, as reported by the Manvel Police Department via KHOU. The vehicle was traveling in the incorrect direction, heading southbound in the northbound express lanes, just north of Croix Road when the collision occurred around 2:29 a.m., resulting in the vehicle becoming fully engulfed in flames.
Both occupants, 45-year-old Alexander Cromwell from Houston and 36-year-old Janica Oliphint of Pearland, were pronounced dead at the scene according to information from the ABC13 report; investigators, who believe speed was a factor in the crash, have yet to determine if alcohol was also involved, as the community awaits toxicology results, the aftermath of the crash scattered debris across Highway 288’s main and express lanes, prompting a shutdown and necessitating hazmat team involvement for cleanup.
The force of the collision was such that the Tesla reignited a second time, captured by Houston TranStar cameras later in the day as crews worked to extinguish the flames once more and debris from the crash resulted in the closure of northbound lanes with traffic being diverted to one open lane, creating significant delays as cleanup efforts continued throughout the day.
Local authorities, keen to avoid future wrong-way impacts, underscored the importance of vigilance in a statement obtained by KHOU, advocating for drivers to keep alert and focused on the road, especially at night, and to opt for the right lane where wrong-way drivers are less likely to travel, in the event of encountering a wrong-way driver, the recommended action is to slow down, move to the shoulder and then promptly call 911 for assistance, with the ultimate goal being self-preservation over an attempt to directly stop the wrong-way vehicle.
