Investigators with Precinct 5 tell us the driver of a red car was heading the wrong way on Beltway 8 near the Beechnut exit. The driver was reportedly heading south on the northbound lanes when the accident happened.
The wrong-way driver was reportedly first spotted near Highway 290 and the Beltway traveling between 70 and 80 miles per hour. Spike strips were put out at Westheimer, but they didn't stop the driver, who kept going until he hit two people in a pickup truck.
"They were telling me it happened so fast that they weren't able to get units to get traffic stopped before he crashed into this vehicle," said Captain Terry Allbritton with the Precinct 5 Constable's Office.
The wrong-way driver was killed in the accident. Two people in the pickup had to be extracted and taken to an area hospital.
Beltway 8 West northbound was closed during the investigation. All lanes are now back open.
