A horrific wrong-way crash on the Katy Freeway early Tuesday morning left two people dead and shut down eastbound lanes for several hours. Houston police say a BMW traveling the wrong way collided head-on with a Tesla Cybertruck near the Washington/Westcott exit just after midnight.
jamar champ car accident
Investigators believe the BMW entered the eastbound lanes of I-10 heading west and struck the Cybertruck, causing the BMW to burst into flames. The impact sent the Cybertruck into a nearby semi-truck. Authorities confirmed that 38-year-old Jamar Champ, the Cybertruck driver, died from injuries sustained in the collision, while the BMW driver also died at the scene. The name of the wrong-way driver has not been released.
Despite multiple “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs near the exit, police believe the BMW entered the freeway at that location. “We believe at this time that the BMW was headed westbound in the eastbound lanes going the wrong direction,” said HPD Sgt. Rebecca Dallas.
Residents in the area say wrong-way drivers are an ongoing concern. Truitt Maxwell, a nearby resident, told KHOU 11 that he recently recorded a driver turning the wrong way onto Westcott from a gas station, saying, “I said, ‘There’s a fatality waiting to happen.’ It seems a little pertinent at the moment.” Maxwell said he has reported concerns about signage and visibility to the city.
TxDOT officials note that numerous warning signs and red reflectors have been installed to deter wrong-way drivers, yet crashes persist. According to previous reporting by KHOU 11, Harris County has seen 111 wrong-way fatalities since 2015, with 233 injuries from wrong-way crashes just last year. Authorities say an autopsy will determine whether impairment played a role in the latest collision.
Champ’s family confirmed he was driving the Cybertruck and shared photos of him with the vehicle. Loved ones remember him as a devoted father and a close friend, whose sudden death has left a profound void.
The crash serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of wrong-way driving, highlighting ongoing concerns about freeway safety in the Houston area.
