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WEST PALM BEACH, Palm Beach County, Fla., Oct. 5, 2026 — One person died and another was seriously hurt after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 95 early Sunday morning, October 4, authorities said. A man has since been arrested on DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 26-year-old West Palm Beach man was driving a pickup truck south in the northbound lanes of I-95 near 45th Street and Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard shortly before 5:30 a.m. A Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy reportedly spotted the truck weaving at roughly 60 to 65 mph and followed it from the opposite side of the median before losing sight of it near Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard.
Troopers said the pickup then struck a minivan head-on. The minivan's driver, identified by investigators as 68-year-old from West Palm Beach, was pronounced dead at the scene. The minivan reportedly swerved after that impact and struck the rear of a sedan carrying a 72-year-old Delray Beach man, who suffered a lacerated aorta and was taken to the hospital with injuries described as incapacitating.
The truck's driver was found behind the wheel with the airbags deployed, according to the report. Deputies and troopers said they noted the smell of alcohol along with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He was also taken to a hospital for treatment. Hospital toxicology testing reportedly put his blood alcohol level at .239, more than four times Florida's legal limit, according to the arrest report.
The man has been charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, DUI causing serious bodily injury, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, and additional counts tied to property damage and injuries, along with a citation for driving the wrong way on the interstate. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 19. The case remains under investigation.
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim.
When Wrong-Way Crashes Are Most Likely to Happen
Wrong-way crashes cluster heavily in the overnight and early morning hours, well after midnight and before sunrise. Traffic volume drops, lanes feel emptier, and a confused or impaired driver entering an off-ramp or exit ramp is less likely to encounter another car head-on before reaching highway speed. Darkness also makes wrong-way headlights harder for other drivers to process in time to react.
Weekend nights carry a higher share of these crashes than weekday ones, tied closely to drinking patterns. A driver leaving a bar or late gathering in the early morning hours is more likely to be impaired, fatigued, or disoriented about direction, all factors that raise the odds of entering a highway against traffic.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 8,197 drivers were involved in alcohol-confirmed crashes in 2023. That volume shows how often alcohol intersects with serious crash outcomes across the state, including the wrong-way pattern seen in overnight highway crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I spot a wrong-way driver? Stay in the right lane, slow down, and give the vehicle as much room as possible. Call 911 with your location and direction of travel so authorities can respond or alert other drivers.
Does alcohol usually factor into wrong-way crashes? Impairment is a common factor in wrong-way crash cases nationally, often paired with late-night or early-morning timing when fewer sober drivers are on the road to self-correct.
What do highways do to prevent wrong-way entries? Many interstates use lowered wrong-way signs, reflective pavement arrows, and in some locations sensors that alert traffic management centers when a vehicle enters against the flow.
What to Do After a Wrong-Way Crash in West Palm Beach, FL
If you're involved in or witness a wrong-way crash, call 911 immediately and move to a safe location away from traffic if possible. Even if injuries seem minor, don't forget to get checked by a medical professional, since trauma from a head-on impact can take hours to show symptoms. Keep any paperwork from police or hospital visits, and ask responding officers how to obtain a copy of the crash report once it's filed. If you're a passenger or secondary driver pulled into a chain-reaction crash like this one, document the scene with photos if you're able to safely do so.
