Five Dead in Fiery Wrong Way Collision

A high-speed wrong-way crash on Loop 820 in Fort Worth, Texas, killed five people, including a bride-to-be and a family of four, during the early morning hours of October 30, 2024.

According to Fort Worth Police Department reports, the collision occurred around 3:35 a.m. when a Ford Focus carrying four family members traveled eastbound in the westbound lanes and struck a pickup truck head-on. The Ford Focus burst into flames upon impact, causing both vehicles to become severely damaged.

First responders arrived at the scene to find heavy smoke and flames. Johanna Yoleth Newsome, 29, and Daniel Newsome, 28, along with their two children, were trapped in the burning vehicle and died at the scene. Investigators believe Johanna Newsome was driving and may have entered the freeway via the Azle Avenue exit ramp.

Chelsea Cook, 33, a passenger in the pickup truck and a bride-to-be, also died in the crash. Her fiancé, Evan Ranallo, a musician, survived with serious injuries, including broken bones. Ranallo was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

A local media outlet spoke with a woman who said she barely missed being hit by the wrong-way driver speeding past her. Valerie, who asked not to use her last name, recalled the vehicle going straight at over 80 miles per hour. She shared how shocking it was, realizing they would have been hit if they hadn’t swerved in that split second. She also expressed a sense of guilt, knowing that while they were safe, others—an entire family and another person—tragically lost their lives.

Tracy Carter, the Fort Worth Police Department’s public information officer, expressed sorrow over the incident, noting how frequently such tragedies occur. Carter emphasized the department’s prayers for the families affected and for the medical personnel and officers who responded to the horrific scene.

Fort Worth police have felt the impact of wrong-way crashes firsthand, having lost Sergeant Billy Randolph just months prior in a similar incident on Interstate 35W, where he was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver traveling in the wrong direction. Reflecting on this tragic pattern, officials are urging drivers to exercise caution, particularly at night. They recommend staying in the far-right lane and using high beams to alert oncoming wrong-way vehicles, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness to prevent further tragedies.

Investigators are working to determine why the Newsome family was driving in the opposite direction. Due to fire damage, toxicology tests on the driver may not be possible, according to authorities. The medical examiner’s office continues to work on determining the exact cause and manner of death for all victims.

The crash was one of 114 fatal crashes recorded in Fort Worth during 2022, a year that saw 120 total traffic fatalities in the city. Tarrant County, which includes Fort Worth, reported 208 fatal crashes resulting in 216 deaths that same year. Statewide, Texas recorded 4,481 fatalities from motor vehicle crashes in 2022.

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