Wrong Way Means Death!

What's wrong here?

Dayton, Ohio installed a series of Wrong Way Detection Devices on a 15 mile stretch of Interstate 75. The stretch from Wagner Ford Road in Dayton to East Dixie Drive in West Carrollton has a series of these devices.

If a wrong way driver gets on the highway, the Do Not Enter sign lights up and it triggers a camera to located the vehicle entering the highway, then it notifies the Ohio Department of Transportation's OHGO! cabinet. They notify the Ohio State Patrol or local police to prepare for stopping the vehicle.

Often the stops never happen because within a few minutes, that wrong way driver collides with a vehicle.

Causes

• Drunk or impaired driving: Alcohol and drug impairment significantly impairs judgment, coordination, and the ability to follow road rules.
• Distracted driving: Activities like using a cell phone, eating, or adjusting the car's entertainment system can divert a driver's attention, causing them to miss exits or signs.
• Driver error: A moment of confusion, especially when entering or exiting a highway, can lead to a wrong-way incident.
• Age and medical conditions: Older drivers or those with cognitive or visual impairments may be more susceptible due to difficulty navigating complex road systems.
• Poor road design: Confusing ramp layouts, poor visibility of signs, and inadequate barriers can contribute to drivers entering the wrong way.
• Inadequate signage: Insufficient, poorly placed, or obscured "Do Not Enter" and "Wrong Way" signs increase the risk of confusion.
• Inclement weather: Poor visibility due to fog, heavy rain, or snow can make it harder for drivers to see signs and pavement markings. 

Potential solutions

• Improved signage: Placing larger signs, adding more signs, and using reflective materials can increase visibility.
• Active detection systems: Installing systems that use cameras, radar, or other sensors to detect wrong-way vehicles and trigger flashing lights and alerts to law enforcement.
• Infrastructure changes: Modifying ramps to make them less confusing and adding physical barriers where possible can help prevent entry.
• Connected vehicle technology: Developing systems that alert drivers and law enforcement in real-time when a wrong-way driver is detected.
• Driver awareness: Public awareness campaigns and the responsibility of drivers to stay focused, avoid distractions, and call 911 when they spot a wrong-way driver. 

It happened in Huber Heights last month when a man leaving a bar got on Interstate 70 at the Brandt Pike/Ohio State Route 201 interchange in the wrong direction.

Teen couple from Springfield, Ohio died because of a wrong way driver.

The wrong-way driver caused a fatal crash on I-70 in Huber Heights which killed himself and two 18-year-olds. The driver, Doniell Snow, entered the interstate at the Brandt Pike exit and was reportedly traveling at high speed when he collided head-on with another vehicle, causing a fiery crash. Investigators are looking into the driver's actions leading up to the crash, including a visit to a local bar, and have not ruled out intentionality. 

Natalie Daly and her boyfriend Nevin Vince, both 18 were killed when Snow plowed into their vehicle. His vehicle the crashed into another driven by a 25-year old man. He would end up crashing into a barrier before stopping.

The Ohio Bureau of Investigation is still determining whether the driver was under the influence, having a medical emergency or intentional vehicular suicide or homicide.

From Daly's social media, she and Vince were having just graduating from high school.

This man got on I-70, drove in the wrong direction and killed a teen couple.

They were preparing for life together. 

Greenon Local Schools released a statement saying in part:

“We are deeply saddened that two of our recent graduates…have passed away following the tragic accident on I-70… We are keeping Nevin and Natalie’s family, friends, and our entire Greenon community in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time.”

The most recent wrong driver comes from a woman who was apparently entering the Edwin C. Moses Boulevard exit from the wrong way. She entered the highway with no headlights and was driving a speed at 80 mph. 

The Dayton Police and Ohio State Patrol managed to intercept the vehicle but it was too late, the vehicle did collide with a box truck. The woman died and two men were taken to a local hospital.

Before her tragic death, she was locked up for driving without a license. She was the most recent wrong way driver.

The 25-year-old woman, Alexis Pernell, died in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 75 South in Dayton early Saturday morning, November 1, 2025.

According to Dayton police, Pernell was driving a gray Honda Accord north in the southbound lanes of I-75 near Salem Avenue (or Third Street) when she collided head-on with a white Ford Transit van around 3:45 a.m.. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Before entering the interstate, Pernell's vehicle was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run crash and then seen by a 911 caller going the wrong way up an I-75 ramp.

The two men in the Ford Transit van were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, treated, and later released the same day. The crash remains under investigation by the Dayton Police Department's Traffic Services Unit. 

News reports noted this incident marked the third wrong-way crash on a Dayton-area freeway in the preceding 30 days, resulting in a total of four deaths. 

Wrong way driver caused a deadly accident in 2017 which shut down I-75 for weeks.

Wrong-way driver issues stem from driver error, with drunk driving and distracted driving being major causes. Other contributing factors include age-related impairments, poor road design, and inadequate signage. These issues can lead to severe or fatal collisions on highways and city streets due to the head-on impact that often occurs. 

In mid-June 2025, a high-speed chase involving a pickup truck ended with four individuals being arrested after the truck drove the wrong way on I-75 and caused a six-vehicle collision. The driver and another person were charged with felony failure to comply, and the others were also arrested after trying to flee on foot. 

This incident ended up hurting a man. 

Another June 2025 incident, a wrong-way driver on U.S. 35 in Dayton was arrested after a short police chase that ended with officers using a pit maneuver to stop the vehicle. The driver, a 25-year-old man, and a 26-year-old passenger, who may have been connected to a stolen vehicle report, both face felony charges. The driver was taken to an area hospital before being transported to the Montgomery County Jail. 

I remember in 2017, a man named Andrew Brunson upset over a divorce proceeding and child custody dispute drove on I-75 from the Third Street exit. He drove deliberate into the path of a Lykins Oil Company truck. The vehicle crashed into the truck and immediately created a fireball. The incident caused a major delay on the freeway.

The freeway was temporarily shutdown for two weeks. Brunson was killed upon impact.