LUBBOCK COUNTY, TX – Early Sunday morning, a devastating head-on collision on Interstate 27 near County Road 5100 claimed the lives of two drivers, Samantha Alwan & Dillon Gage Beverage. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the crash occurred around 6 a.m. when a 2014 Ford Escape was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes and collided with a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The driver of the Jeep, identified as 29-year-old Samantha Alwan of Lubbock, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Ford Escape caught fire upon impact, and its male driver also sustained fatal injuries. DPS is working to confirm his identity as part of their ongoing investigation.
Emergency responders were dispatched quickly but were unable to save either driver due to the severity of the crash. Investigators are now focused on understanding what led to the Ford Escape driving the wrong way. Potential contributing factors such as impairment, distraction, or road conditions are being examined.
The collision has left the local community grieving, particularly for Alwan, a young woman whose life was tragically cut short. Friends and family members expressed shock and sadness over the loss, while also awaiting further details about the crash and the identity of the other victim.
Wrong-way crashes are rare but often catastrophic, frequently resulting in fatalities. DPS continues to emphasize the importance of safe driving practices, including avoiding distractions and impaired driving, to prevent such tragic incidents. The department is urging anyone with information about the crash to come forward to aid the investigation.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers on the road and the importance of vigilance while driving. As authorities work to uncover the causes of this tragedy, the Lubbock community mourns the loss of two lives in a preventable and devastating event.