BEAUMONT, TX (03/29/2016) — A head-on accident caused by a wrong way driver claimed the life of Lucille Nixon on Tuesday afternoon.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that 71-year-old Lucille Nixon has died from injuries sustained in a head-on car accident that occurred along Interstate 10 in Beaumont, Texas.
According to DPS Trooper Stephanie Davis, at around 2:50 p.m., 21-year-old Jaricka Carter was traveling westbound in Ford pickup truck (near the Goodyear Plant) when she veered into the center median for unknown reasons.
The vehicle then continued through the cable barrier, into the eastbound lanes, where she struck a Nissan Altima—driven by Nixon—head-on.
Nixon was transported to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital with serious injuries, where she later died.
Carter was also taken to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
“If charges are filed in this case, those charges will be based solely on the factual evidence obtained during the crash investigation,” Trooper Davis said.
This fatal accident remains under investigation.
Commentary
As the DPS works diligently to find the cause of this tragic accident, we used Google StreetView to give us a clearer picture of the area. Images indicate that this stretch of highway doesn’t offer drivers much protection against wrong way drivers, as the median is separated by only a small cable barrier (instead of a guardrail or concrete step barrier). Perhaps, in light of this accident, more can be done separate the lanes of traffic to help prevent future crashes similar to this one.
