Wrong Way Crash Near Alice Kills McAllen Man, Injures Edinburg Man
A wrong way crash on U.S. 281 near Alice on Nov. 29 killed a 51 year old man from McAllen and left 29 year old Brian Cisneros of Edinburg injured. The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the collision as local hospitals and emergency responders treat the injured and residents confront traffic disruptions and renewed safety concerns on a busy county corridor.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a Nov. 29 wrong way crash on U.S. 281 just outside Alice that left one person dead and another seriously injured. At about 12:45 p.m., a 1999 Toyota Solara traveling south struck the rear of a southbound 2019 Kenworth tractor trailer, then crossed the median into northbound lanes and collided head on with a 2019 GMC Sierra. The Solara caught fire with the driver inside. The driver, a 51 year old man from McAllen, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the GMC Sierra, identified as 29 year old Brian Cisneros of Edinburg, was transported to Christus Spohn in Alice and subsequently flown to Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital in Corpus Christi for further treatment. Authorities described the Solara as operating recklessly and failing to stay in its lane before the initial impact with the tractor trailer. The crash remains under investigation by DPS as officers continue to piece together the sequence of events and possible contributing factors.
The collision closed lanes on U.S. 281 while emergency crews fought the vehicle fire and cleared wreckage, causing significant traffic delays for commuters and commercial traffic on a key north south route through Jim Wells County. Local residents reported detours and longer travel times in the hours after the crash. The involvement of a tractor trailer and two passenger vehicles raises ongoing concerns about median safety and wrong way incidents on state highways that serve both local traffic and long haul freight.
Christus Spohn Alice and Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital in Corpus Christi were central to the emergency medical response, receiving and treating the injured. Family members and neighbors of the deceased and the injured are affected by the loss and the hospitalization. Drivers in Jim Wells County are reminded to exercise caution on U.S. 281, especially during midday and peak traffic hours, while DPS completes its inquiry and officials evaluate any measures to improve highway safety.
