Texas Deputies Stop Wrong-Way Driver By Taking Head-On Impact In Patrol Car

Two Texas deputies are being hailed as heroes as they recover from minor injuries after stopping a wrong-way driver by placing their patrol car in its path.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said multiple 911 callers reported a wrong-way driver traveling east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 near Baytown at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Multiple units were deployed to the area, and Deputies Joshua Blair and Louie Ayala spotted the wrong-way driver. Dashboard camera video shared by the sheriff’s office shows the deputies positioning their patrol car directly in the path of the driver, resulting in a head-on collision.

“Thick fog made it even more dangerous, but these deputies positioned their patrol car to take the impact, preventing a potentially catastrophic collision,” the sheriff’s office said.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the deputies’ “heroic” action “probably saved lives.” He said they experienced minor pain, but did not require transport to the hospital.

The deputies were able to check on the wrong-way driver, identified as 23-year-old Nathan Arevalo, who was also uninjured, but allegedly showed signs of impairment.

Arevalo was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and booked into the Harris County Jail.