HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Six people have died in wrong-way crashes on the Westpark Tollway since April 2021.
This is a concern for Houstonians who travel on the highway during times when crashes like these happen.
“For someone (Harris County Toll Road Authority) to put big, bright lights and signs saying, ‘Wrong Way,’ I feel like as a citizen, that would be adequate enough,” said Eyad Achraf, who is a Houston DJ.
Achraf said he’s not done with his events until, sometimes, two or three in the morning. He said he’s aware these crashes happen and says it’s good to be aware at all times.
“I mean, what else can you do besides put wrong-way signs in,” said Achraf. “Are they going to pay an officer to patrol it all the times? I don’t think it’s going to happen. I feel like that’s the only solution, is to have someone constantly patrol there.”
Surveillance video from a nearby business obtained exclusively by ABC13 shows a wrong-way crash involving a private ambulance early Saturday morning.
The Harris County Constable’s office said a wrong-way driver entered the Westpark Tollway and drove westbound in the eastbound lanes. One person in each vehicle died at the scene of the accident near Fondren, including paramedic Sarah Kaderli.
These deaths are just two of six people who died in three fatal crashes on the Westpark Tollway since April 2021.
Three people, including a 3-year-old died, in a fiery crash near FM 1464 in Fort Bend County in July 2021. Three months prior, 19-year-old Jaelyn Chapman was killed in a crash near Dunvale involving what authorities call a “heavily intoxicated driver.” A tow truck driver ABC13 spoke to said he has responded to a number of wrong-way crashes in different parts of town.
“If you’re drinking, you’re not going to pay attention to that sign,” said Achraf.
So, with six deaths since April, we want to know what the HCTRA is doing to make improvements to the Westpark Tollway. reached out repeatedly Wednesday by phone and email to ask if more signs have been put up along the roadway, if they are they enabled and working, and what is being done to prevent crashes in the future.
Roxana Sibrian, the communications manager with the HCTRA, didn’t answer our questions specifically.
