Just two days ago two people died when a drunk driver entered I-45 at Research going north in the south bound lanes. That crash happened close to 3 am.

Sunday morning just after 1:30 am a Montgomery County Dispatcher with a sense of urgency in her voice reported a vehicle traveling north in the southbound lanes of I –45 approaching Research. Shenandoah Officers jumped the median and stopped all traffic on I-45 southbound with the intention of taking the vehicle as it got to them. But within seconds a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy called for an ambulance and fire equipment at I-45 just north of Woodlands Parkway. He reported a Chevrolet Impala struck a Pontiac G6 head on.

South Montgomery County Fire Department quickly arrived on the scene and cut the driver of the Chevrolet out. MCHD rushed him to Hermann Hospital Woodlands in critical condition. Later Hermann transferred the driver identified as Edward Blackwell, 43, of Montgomery. It was also determined he did have an elevated alcohol level in his blood.

The others were not able to be saved.

Dominique Hobbs, 27, of Grand Prarie was the passenger in the Pontiac G6. He was pronounced dead on the scene by Justice of the Peace Matt Masden.

The female driver in the Pontiac was also pronounced dead on the scene but has not been identified yet.

The make passenger in the Chevrolet has not yet been identified as of yet and was pronounced dead on the scene. All three were transported by Eickenhorst Funeral Directors to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for Autopsy.

According to witnesses the Chevrolet Impala was southbound on the I-45 feeder. When the driver approached the entrance ramp just before Woodlands Parkway he entered the freeway, stopped and made a u-turn on the main lanes of the freeway and drove north in the southbound lanes.

I-45 remained closed until almost 7 am as the crash was investigated by DPS and The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

We will update the identities as DPS makes notification of the families.

If the intoxicated driver survives he will face three counts of intoxicated manslaughter.

If there were any other witnesses who saw Blackwell drinking you are asked to contact the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office Vehicular Crime Division.