Wrong way crash on Route 24 in Fall River leaves driver fighting for life

A serious crash Friday morning has left a driver fighting for her life.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, at 3:10 a.m. today Troopers from the State Police-Dartmouth Barracks responded to a wrong-way operator crash on route 24 southbound in Fall River involving a sedan and a tractor-trailer, and which resulted in serious injuries. Preliminary investigation indicates a 2017 Mazda 3 operated by a 36-year-old Rhode Island woman was driving north in the southbound lane when it struck a 2015 Volvo tractor operated by a 40-year-old New Bedford man. The tractor was pulling a trailer owned by a seafood company.

The operator of the Mazda was transported to Rhode Island Hospital by Fall River EMS with serious, life-threatening injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer unit was also transported to Rhode Island Hospital with possible minor injuries.

Fall River Firefighter Union president Jason Burns commended Fall River Fire for handling a very difficult incident.

“Our firefighters responded to a difficult scene last night. It has been reported and appeared as though this was a ‘wrong way driver’ accident. This truck was traveling south on RT24 towards the I-195 split. The vehicle was somehow traveling North on the 24 South side at impact. Crews responded from Heavy Rescue One, Engine 9 and Ladder 4 along with multiple ambulances. Proud of the work of our membership who were able to quickly and efficiently utilize new equipment to extricate the victim and get her on the way to RIH where we hope she recovers.”

The facts and circumstances of the crash, including the cause of the wrong-way operation, remain under investigation by Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. The scene was cleared shortly before 6 a.m.