One person was ejected from their car, three others were critically injured, and a wrong-way driver from Canada was allegedly drunk behind the wheel when he slammed head-on into westbound traffic on I-30 Sunday evening — a catastrophic chain-reaction crash that ultimately claimed the life of 22-year-old Totiana Samuels.The collision happened around 7:30 p.m. near downtown Fort Worth, where traffic was heavy with weekend drivers heading home.
According to investigators, 45-year-old Gary Morton of Alberta somehow entered the westbound lanes going the wrong direction. Witnesses described seeing headlights approaching fast, facing them instead of following them — a terrifying sight that left drivers with only seconds to react. Morton’s vehicle crashed into another car with such violent force that debris scattered across multiple lanes, and at least one victim was thrown from their vehicle.
Samuels, who was inside one of the struck vehicles, sustained severe injuries that first responders worked desperately to treat. Medics administered CPR at the scene and transported her to a nearby hospital, but despite hours of effort, she did not survive. Her death has devastated family and friends, who describe her as bright, ambitious, and full of promise — a young woman with her entire life ahead of her.
Several others remain hospitalized in critical condition, and officials have not yet released their names. Morton, the alleged wrong-way driver, was taken into custody after showing signs of intoxication, according to authorities. Blood tests are pending, but investigators believe alcohol played a significant role in the deadly crash.
I-30 remained shut down for hours as crash reconstruction teams documented the scene, marking debris fields, measuring skid marks, and collecting evidence to determine how Morton entered the highway and how the collision unfolded.As the investigation continues, the community mourns Samuels — a life stolen in seconds by a senseless, preventable act. Police say additional charges are likely as more information becomes available.
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