As surprised as I was when first reading wrong-way collision incidents the more interested in why they occur I became. By far the leading cause is driving while under the influence of alcohol. I like driving in the interstate highway system so the likelihood of a wrong-way driver coming towards me became an obsessive challenge. Staying safe and recognizing how to avoid a wrong-way interstate highway collision is why I've read hundreds of the reports about them. Today we have more and in each I've summarized my findings. This is a month period at the end of 2009. It wasn't a very prolific period, but one is too many.

San Antonio, Texas – November 30, 2009 – Errol Moore, a 44-year-old man attempted to drive onto Interstate 35 using an off ramp at Rittiman Road. He ran head-on into a SUV being driven by a 23-year-old woman. He was killed and she was taken to Northeast Baptist Hospital. Moore was taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center. Blood work for alcohol wasn’t done because of his need for a blood transfusion. The time of the collision was around 4:30 a.m. He was attempting to head south in the northbound lanes of travel.

Durango, Colorado – December 1, 2009 – This wrong-way driver is reported to have been observed driving the wrong-way down a city street. When police attempted to stop him he attempted to out-run them. He drove down another street the wrong-way and up onto the sidewalk striking parking meters and a news stand. When his power steering quit working he was appended. This all started at 12:41 a.m. The driver is 21 and he was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving, felony assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, vehicular eluding and reckless driving.

Arcola, Illinois – November 29, 2009 – I-57 wrong-way for over seven miles on a Friday afternoon in the northbound lanes. The wrong-way car was spotted by an Illinois State Trooper that got him stopped before an accident occurred. He must not have been drunk; my guess is he was elderly, because the trooper called his family members that picked up the driver after which his car was towed away.

How can we prevent wrong-way collisions on the national highway system?

San Francisco, California – December 2, 2009 – This driver was observed by SF Police driving the wrong-way on Washington Street. When they stopped the driver and smelled alcoholic beverages the driver failed the field sobriety test and was taken into custody.

Staten Island, New York – December 2, 2009 – This wrong-way on the West Shore Expressway appears from the report to have been intentional. It started as a drunk driving stop and then turned into an attempt to elude officers. The wrong-way driver is described as traveling at a high rate of speed, over 70 mph, in the wrong direction before crashing head-on into a Cadillac Escalade and then a Volvo. The Volvo driver died in the collision. The wrong-way driver is reported to have been charged with “second-degree murder, second second-degree vehicular manslaughter and several other counts stemming from the fatal Labor Day weekend 2007 crash.”

Indianapolis, Indiana – December 4, 2009 – I-70 in the westbound lanes this wrong-way driver caused a pile-up resulted in one death. There were five vehicles involved. It was a Thursday around 7:00 a.m. An earlier report indicates the wrong-way driver was a 63 year-old male.

Smithfield-Johnston, Rhode Island – December 4, 2009 – This one is reported to have occurred on Route 295 at 1:59 a.m., a Thursday. The driver must have realized his mistake as 911 callers described the car as driving 20 mph hugging the shoulder on the northbound side near Exit 7 in Smithfield. As reported police stopped the driver and found him to be “highly intoxicated”. Well I stand corrected because this news report indicates that when stopped the driver had no idea he was travelling the wrong direction. BAC is .224 in a 0.08 state. Driver arrested for driving under the influence, reckless driving and resisting arrest.

Carnuel, New Mexico – December 4, 2009 – This wrong-way driver collided head-on with another car. One person died. No fewer than 9 other drivers tried to stop the car before the crash. The Interstate is I-40, eastbound in the westbound lanes, Thursday and the time is not reported. There is a transcript of the 911 call given and a news video.

Quispamsis, Connecticut - December 5, 2009 – This wrong-way driver on the Mackay Highway left behind him a pair of semi-trucks that collided while attempting to avoid crashing with him. Although the wrong-way avoided a collision he was appended and arrested.

Colonie, New York - December 4, 2009 – This wrong-way driver on I-87 collided with a semi-truck before police could stop her. She is a 40-year-old who was also reportedly charged with possession of marijuana.

Seattle, Washington – December 6, 2009 – In this wrong-way collision a pedestrian allegedly was struck and killed early on a Sunday. The location is the intersection of Bell Street and Western Avenue at 2:25 a.m. Driver heading west on Bell a small Honda, stopped at the stop sign, took off, struck the pedestrian and then drove the wrong-way down a one-way street. As reported, “The driver of the Honda was pulled over and showed signs of intoxication and impairment. The driver was later arrested and booked into the King County Jail for investigation of vehicular homicide.”

Los Alamos, California – A commenter reports seeing and barely missing a wrong-way driver heading northbound on U.S. Highway 101. No collisions reported.

As you can see wrong-way drivers are almost impossible to prevent.

Delaware, Ohio – December 6, 2009 – Wrong-way by a 23-year-old man on Interstate 71 near state highway 36/37. The car ran head-on into a semi-truck killing the driver. No indication of a possible reason. From an earlier report it appears the collision occurred at 5 a.m. in the northbound lanes.

It would seem something needs to be done to stop wrong-way drivers who are drunk.

Atlanta, Georgia – December 8, 2009 – Southbound on I-75 ahead of the Langford Parkway a 3:00 a.m. head-on collision caused by a wrong-way driver killed one driver and seriously injured another.

Minneapolis, Minn. – December 8, 2009 – This report has a pregnant woman losing a baby as a result of a wrong-way collision on I-94.