El Paso, TX — February 1, 2026, one person was injured due to a wrong-way car accident at approximately 7:45 a.m. along I-10.

According to authorities, a 34-year-old man from Fort Hancock was traveling in a southeast bound Nissan Sentra in the northwest bound lanes of Interstate Highway 10 near Don Haskins Drive when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that the wrong-way vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a northwest bound Ford F-150 pickup truck. He reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. It does not appear that anyone else was hurt.

Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash is labeled “wrong-way,” it sounds like the cause is obvious. But that term only describes direction. It does not explain how a vehicle entered opposing lanes or what happened in the moments before the collision.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
A head-on collision requires detailed reconstruction. Investigators should examine how the vehicle accessed the opposing lanes, how long it traveled there, and the speed of both vehicles before impact. It is important to determine whether either driver attempted to brake or steer away and how much time was available to react. Measuring impact angles, mapping vehicle paths, and reviewing physical evidence at the scene are essential steps. Not every officer has advanced training in complex crash reconstruction. The key question is whether enough expertise and time were devoted to fully understanding how the wrong-way movement occurred and how the collision unfolded.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
Mechanical failure must also be considered. Steering problems, brake malfunctions, throttle issues, or electronic system failures can affect a driver’s ability to control direction or slow down. A thorough inspection of both vehicles is necessary to determine whether any hidden defect contributed to the head-on impact.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Electronic evidence can clarify what happened before the collision. Vehicles may record speed, throttle position, braking input, and system alerts. Phone records can help determine whether distraction played a role. Traffic cameras or nearby surveillance footage may also confirm timing and movement. If this information is not preserved quickly, it may be lost.

When a wrong-way crash results in serious injuries, surface explanations are not enough. Clear answers depend on whether investigators carefully reconstructed the full sequence and gathered every available piece of reliable evidence.

Key takeaways:

• “Wrong-way” describes direction, not the root cause.
• Mechanical control systems should be examined.
• Electronic and camera data can clarify what happened before impact.