Wrong-Way Crash on Interstate Twenty Near Terrell Kills Two Drivers as Police Investigate Head-On Collision and Fire
TERRELL, TX — Police in Terrell say a wrong-way crash on Interstate 20 killed two people and left another driver with minor injuries after a pickup entered the westbound lanes traveling eastbound. The collision happened Wednesday afternoon near mile marker 502 and quickly drew multiple emergency calls from motorists who saw the dangerous situation unfolding.
According to the Terrell Police Department, officers were first dispatched after 9-1-1 callers reported a vehicle moving the wrong direction on the interstate. Dispatchers then received additional reports that a head-on collision had already occurred. Investigators say the wrong-way vehicle first struck one truck before crashing head-on into another, leading to a fatal scene that remains under active review.
How the Interstate 20 crash unfolded
Preliminary findings from Terrell police say a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling in the inside westbound lane when it was moving the wrong way on Interstate 20. The truck first hit a 2023 Ford F-250 driven by Alfonso Zuniga of Terrell. Moments later, the Silverado collided head-on with a 2025 GMC Sierra driven by Nicholas Landwermeyer of Tyler.
The sequence left investigators piecing together how the pickup entered the wrong lanes in the first place. Police have not yet publicly explained why the Silverado was traveling eastbound in westbound traffic. For now, the department is treating the case as an active crash investigation and is asking anyone with witness information or video to come forward.
Two deaths confirmed at the scene
Authorities said the driver of the Silverado was trapped inside after the vehicle caught fire following impact. Both that driver and Landwermeyer were pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the Silverado driver has not yet been officially confirmed, according to police.
Both bodies were transported to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office for further examination and identification. While the crash proved fatal for two people, investigators said Zuniga suffered only minor injuries. No additional details about his condition were immediately released by police.
Fire and impact complicated the response
The crash escalated after the Chevrolet Silverado became fully engulfed in flames, leaving first responders with a fast-moving emergency scene. That fire added another layer of danger for officers and other responders already dealing with a head-on collision on a busy interstate corridor.
Police have not said whether any other vehicles were directly involved beyond the three trucks named in the preliminary account. The department’s description indicates that the wrong-way pickup struck one vehicle first and then hit the GMC Sierra head-on, turning the incident into a deadly chain of events in a matter of moments.
Terrell police seek witnesses and video
The Terrell Police Department is continuing to investigate what led up to the wreck and is urging anyone who saw the crash to contact investigators. Officers B. Garza and H. Martinez are the points of contact for witnesses or people who may have dashcam footage, cellphone video or other relevant information.
Police said the investigation remains open and that additional information will be released as it becomes available. At this stage, officials have not announced any charges or identified a cause, and they have not said whether impairment, distraction or another factor played a role.
Interstate 20 remains a focus for serious crash investigations
The deadly collision comes as investigators continue to examine one of the more dangerous types of roadway incidents: a wrong-way driver entering interstate traffic. On divided highways, even a brief mistake can quickly put motorists in the path of oncoming vehicles and leave little room for evasive action.
For Terrell police, the immediate priority is determining how the Silverado got into the westbound lanes and whether more witnesses can help clarify the timeline. The department said it will release more details after the review advances, while families and loved ones of the two men who died are left waiting for answers.