Police Chase Wrong-Way Driver For 15 Miles
BURLESON (CBSDFW.COM) - A female driver traveling the wrong direction along Interstate-35W -- heading south in the northbound lanes -- caused two separate crashes early Wednesday morning. She was first seen around Interstate-30 near downtown Fort Worth and not stopped until reaching Burleson, some 15 miles down the interstate.
Juan Maquez was driving his white four-door sedan and taking a friend to JPS Hospital in Fort Worth. His car was nearly hit near Rosedale Street, after he noticed a vehicle coming toward him without headlights. He quickly swerved to avoid a crash, but ended up being spun into the inside wall. The friend inside of the car did eventually get to the hospital with non-serious injuries. "We just spun and spun," Maquez said. "She hit her head on the window."
The wrong-way driver kept traveling down the highway.
Another crash involved a full-size Chevrolet Suburban that also ended up being wrecked along the inside wall of the interstate, between Berry Street and Ripy Street. David Young of Burleson was on his way into work at about 2:45 a.m. when the incident took place. "I got over the hill and she was heading right toward me," he said. According to Young, the brown Ford Taurus did not have lights on. He also swerved to avoid the car, but was hit on the rear driver side and sent into the inside lane wall. "It ruined my family car," Young said, but he was not injured.
The wrong-way driver kept traveling down the highway.
Authorities tried several methods to get the driver's attention, all with no success. Police units were driving alongside her using lights, sirens and the public address system. A police helicopter spotlight was even used overhead. Officials were able to spike her tires and eventually shut down the road at Hidden Creek Parkway in Burleson.
This is where the wrong-way driver slammed into a squad car and finally came to a stop -- about 15 miles from where she was first spotted.
The driver has only been identified as a Hispanic female in her late 30s. Police said that the incident was alcohol-related. She was charged with DWI and leaving the scene of a crash that caused injury.
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