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Fort Worth, TX (August 18, 2026) — Three people were killed and two others, including a child, were injured early on Tuesday, August 18, in a wrong-way collision on Texas 121 near downtown Fort Worth.
Fort Worth police said a Jeep was traveling east in the westbound lanes at about 1:20 a.m. Another vehicle moved to avoid the Jeep and was struck toward the rear of its driver’s side. No major injuries were reported from that initial impact.
A short time later, the Jeep collided head-on with a car carrying four people. The Jeep driver and two women in the car died at the scene. The car’s driver and a child believed to be about 10 or 11 years old were taken to a local hospital and were expected to survive.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to release the identities of those who died.
Investigators continue reviewing the cause of the fatal crash.
Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who died, as well as the people recovering from their injuries.
Where the Collision Happened: Texas 121 Near Riverside Drive
The crash affected Texas 121 near downtown Fort Worth, with southbound lanes closed at Riverside Drive for several hours. The roadway had reopened by 7:30 a.m., according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
A highway corridor carries through traffic over longer distances while also connecting drivers with local streets and other routes. Those conditions create a different traffic environment from that of a neighborhood street, particularly when vehicles are moving in opposing directions on separate sides of the roadway.
What We Know
- Three people were killed in the crash.
- Two other people, including a child, were injured and were expected to survive.
- Police said a Jeep was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Texas 121 at about 1:20 a.m.
- Another vehicle was struck after it moved to avoid the wrong-way Jeep, with no major injuries reported in that collision.
- The Jeep later collided head-on with a car occupied by four people.
- The Jeep driver and two women in the other car died at the scene.
- The Fort Worth Police Department Traffic Investigation Unit is investigating.
Why Wrong-Way Highway Collisions Can Have Severe Consequences
Wrong-way crashes can create especially dangerous impact patterns because vehicles traveling toward one another may have little opportunity to avoid a direct collision once they enter the same path.
That concern is closely tied to the reported circumstances on Texas 121. Police said one vehicle had already moved to avoid the wrong-way Jeep before the subsequent head-on collision. Investigators have not yet explained why the Jeep entered or continued traveling in the opposing lanes, so the reason for the wrong-way movement remains unknown.
The fatal outcome also means investigators will need to document the collision sequence carefully before reaching conclusions about the events that led to the deaths.
How This Crash Is Investigated
Because this incident involved more than one collision before the fatal head-on impact, investigators may work to establish the order of events and the movements of each vehicle involved.
Physical damage, vehicle positions, roadway evidence, and witness accounts can help investigators reconstruct where the Jeep traveled and how the other drivers responded. Police are also seeking information or video from people who may have witnessed the crash.
The Fort Worth Police Department Traffic Investigation Unit is handling the investigation, and authorities have not yet announced a final cause.
What to Do After a Fatal Crash in Texas
After a serious or fatal collision, families and injured people may find it useful to preserve medical records, photographs, insurance documents, vehicle information, and other records connected with the crash. The completed crash report can provide a more formal account of the incident than early news reports, which may change as investigators complete their review.
In Texas, crash reports are maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation through its Crash Records Information System. Reports may be purchased through the CRIS Public Portal at cris.dot.state.tx.us/public/Purchase. The crash report is identified as CR-3, while CR-91 is the form used for mail requests.
Texas charges a $6 fee for a regular report and $8 for a certified copy when purchased online through CRIS with a credit or debit card. Officers have 10 days to file a crash report, followed by about 4 business days for the Texas Department of Transportation to process it. Reports are often available within seven to 10 business days.
Under Transportation Code § 550.065, parties with a proper interest may obtain an unredacted report. Other requesters receive a redacted copy. Texas does not use a fixed public-release window for these records; access and redaction depend on the requester’s eligibility.
Local Accident Reports compiles incident information from official agencies and credible local sources. Details from initial reports may be updated as official investigations conclude. If you have direct knowledge that any information here is inaccurate, please contact us so we can review and correct the record.
