A late-night wrong-way crash just north of Brownfield has left one person injured and another behind bars facing serious felony charges.
According to authorities, at approximately 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, Brownfield Police Dispatch alerted Brownfield Fire & Rescue to a major accident about 1.5 miles north of the city along U.S. Highway 62/82, commonly known as the Lubbock Highway.
Initial reports indicated that a vehicle was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the highway before colliding with another vehicle.
Terry County Sheriff Tim Click confirmed that law enforcement had already received calls regarding a wrong-way driver moments before the crash occurred. The suspect vehicle was described as a dark-colored, late-model Ram 1500 pickup.
Authorities later identified the driver as Jerry Simmons, 52, of Lubbock.
Law enforcement says Simmons drove the wrong direction for several miles, though they were unable to determine exactly where he entered the northbound lanes. The crash occurred approximately 1.25 miles north of the Brownfield city limits, where he struck another pickup head-on.
The second vehicle, described as a gray to dark gray late-model Ram 1500, was traveling northbound at the time of the collision.
The impact occurred on the front right sides of both trucks, causing significant damage and sending both vehicles spinning: The gray Ram spun into the median and came to rest facing east and Simmons’ pickup spun in the opposite direction, stopping near the shoulder of the northbound lanes facing west
One occupant from the gray pickup was transported to a Lubbock hospital with injuries. The extent of those injuries has not been released at this time.
Simmons, who was the sole occupant of his vehicle, was taken into custody at the scene without incident. He was booked into the Terry County Law Enforcement Center (TCLEC) and is currently being held on the following charges: Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon and Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle Causing Serious Bodily Injury (SBI)
Under Texas law, intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury is classified as a third-degree felony, which carries a potential penalty of:
- 2 to 10 years in prison
- Up to a $10,000 fine
As of now, a bond has not been set.
The crash remains under investigation by local authorities. Officials have not released additional details regarding contributing factors, but emphasize the dangers of impaired and wrong-way driving.
The Terry County Sheriff’s Office, Brownfield Police, Brownfield Fire & Rescue, Meadow Volunteer Fire Dept., Texas DPS, BRMC EMS, Plains EMS, and TxDOT responded to the scene.
