Palestine ISD says a teacher and coach at Palestine Junior High was among four people killed in a wrong-way crash just before midnight Sunday night on I-45 south of Dallas. Police say a car driving north in the southbound lanes hit another car head-on.
Ferris Police and DPS first responded to reports of a car going the wrong way. The case was then transferred to Wilmer Police as the car moved into Dallas County.
"Of course, our officers responded. By the time they got to the area where they came into our city, there was already a crash, so they arrived and found two vehicles involved," said Wilmer Police Chief Victor Kemp.
Kemp says the woman driving the car going the wrong way died in the crash along with two children in the car with her. He says the man driving the other car was also killed. Two kids in that car were injured and taken to hospitals in Dallas; their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The medical examiner has not confirmed the identities of those who died, but Palestine ISD says the man driving the car going the right way worked at Palestine Junior High.
"Palestine ISD is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our educators, Michael Coyne, a teacher and coach at Palestine Junior High," the district posted on Facebook. "We extend our condolences to Coach Coyne's family, friends and students."
Palestine ISD says Coyne was driving home from the Mavericks game but has not confirmed the relationship of the two kids in the car, only confirming they are students in the district.
Kemp says Wilmer Police are working with Ferris Police and DPS on the investigation. He says some witnesses reported the car driving the wrong way did not have its headlights on, and the investigation will look to see why and how long she was driving the wrong way.
"We had seven staff personnel on scene at the accident. They'll get started back fresh in the morning, further investigating the accident scene," Kemp said. "It can spread your resources thin when there's still other police business going on."
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