A wrong-way driver on eastbound Interstate 10 near Greenville in Madison County slammed head-on into another car early Saturday, killing both drivers and shutting down traffic for hours, according to troopers.
The crash happened just after 1 a.m. when a vehicle traveling against the flow of traffic on I-10 east struck an oncoming car. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, and eastbound lanes were closed for several hours while investigators worked the scene and cleared the wreckage.
According to WCTV, which cites the Florida Highway Patrol, a 34-year-old woman from Orange Park was behind the wheel of the wrong-way vehicle when she hit a car driven by a 24-year-old man from Jacksonville. Troopers told WCTV that the impact caused both vehicles to spin, and neither driver survived.
Crash scene and traffic impact
The collision blocked all eastbound lanes for several hours before they were reopened, according to the Florida Highway Patrol’s live traffic portal. Florida Highway Patrol live incident reports provide real-time status on closures and troop responses along I-10 and other state routes. Troopers have not released additional details about what led up to the wrong-way driving.
Why wrong-way crashes are so deadly
Wrong-way collisions are relatively rare but often deadly because they typically involve high-speed, head-on impacts. A 2018 study in Accident Analysis & Prevention using NHTSA FARS data found hundreds of annual U.S. deaths from wrong-way crashes and noted that these incidents lead to more fatalities per crash than many other types of collisions. Transportation researchers and highway agencies point to a mix of engineering changes, ramp-level detection and targeted enforcement as key tools for cutting down on these catastrophic wrecks.
FHP continues to investigate the Madison County crash, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol. For continuing coverage and traffic updates on I-10, see reporting from WCTV.
