An early morning drive turned deadly in Richland Hills yesterday when a suspected drunk driver headed the wrong way on State Highway 121, slammed into another vehicle, and sparked a fiery crash that killed the wrong-way motorist and sent the other driver to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Early-morning chaos on SH 121
Calls started hitting 911 around 5:30 a.m., as drivers reported a vehicle barreling north in the southbound lanes of SH 121. Minutes later, Richland Hills officers were dispatched to the 6900 block of the highway, according to The Dallas Morning News. Lanes in the area were briefly shut down while first responders worked on the wreckage.
Fire crews confront a car in flames
When emergency crews arrived, they found one vehicle already engulfed in flames. Firefighters put out the fire and discovered a lone occupant inside, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to FOX 4. The victim’s body was taken to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and further testing. The driver in the other vehicle survived with injuries described as non-life-threatening and was transported to a nearby hospital.
Police suspect intoxication in wrong-way driving
Investigators believe the person who died was the one driving the wrong way on the highway. That intoxication likely played a role in the crash, police told reporters, according to CBS News Texas. Detectives said the deceased is considered the suspect in the incident. With that suspect now dead, authorities do not expect any criminal charges.
Ongoing investigation and how the public can help
Richland Hills police detectives are asking anyone who saw the wrong-way driver or has information about the crash to call 817-616-3796 or email [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be submitted at 469tips.com or by calling 817-469-TIPS, according to a department news release reported by FOX 4. Officials emphasized that details remain preliminary while they wait for toxicology results and the medical examiner’s formal identification of the victim, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
