Deadly Wrong-Way Crash Closes East Loop 820 in Southeast Fort Worth

Wrong-way driver ID'd as 51-year-old Jeffery Allen Ratigan

Published Oct 16, 2019 at 6:25 AM | Updated at 8:49 AM CDT on Oct 17, 2019

One person is dead after colliding head-on with an 18-wheeler Wednesday morning in Fort Worth, police say. (Published Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019)

A Fort Worth man is dead after colliding head-on with an 18-wheeler Wednesday morning in Fort Worth, police say.

The crash happened about 4:30 a.m. in the northbound lanes of East Loop 820, between Wilbarger Street and Berry Street.

According to police, a Nissan SUV was heading southbound in the northbound lanes when it struck a Bud Light 18-wheeler.

The driver of the SUV was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Tarrant County medical examiner identified him as 51-year-old Jeffery Allen Ratigan.

Paramedics transported the 18-wheeler driver to a hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening.

All northbound traffic was forced onto the service road. Lanes were reopened by 9:15 a.m.

Police are investigating the crash.