Fatal Wrong-Way Crashes on the Rise in Massachusetts

Late on the night of Saturday, June 27, 2026, a driver entered Interstate 93 north in South Boston and drove south in the northbound lanes. In the minutes that followed, a family of four crashed while trying to avoid the oncoming vehicle, and the wrong-way driver then struck another car head-on, killing a man in his 20s from Haverhill.

It is the kind of crash that turns an ordinary drive home into a tragedy in a matter of seconds. Families facing this kind of loss are certainly looking for answers. To achieve that, it's important to understand what happened and what may come next.

This post starts with that crash and then steps back, because the I-93 crash was not an isolated event. Below, we walk through what is known about the South Boston crash, why these collisions keep happening, and what legal options Massachusetts law gives the people they harm.

What Happened in the I-93 Wrong-Way Crash in South Boston?

According to Massachusetts State Police accounts reported in the press, the fatal wrong-way crash on I-93 in South Boston began just before midnight when an 81-year-old driver entered I-93 north at Exit 15B and continued south against traffic. A Honda Odyssey carrying a family of four and an Audi A4 crashed while trying to avoid the oncoming SUV, and the family was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Moments later, the wrong-way vehicle collided head-on with a Chevrolet Cruze. The driver of the Cruze, a man in his 20s from Haverhill, died from his injuries. The wrong-way driver survived, was hospitalized, and is expected to be summoned to court, with the investigation still ongoing.

How Common Are Wrong-Way Crashes Like This in Massachusetts?

Crashes such as the I-93 collision are rare relative to all crashes, but they carry an outsized human cost. According to an AAA Northeast analysis of the state's IMPACT crash data, 135 people died in more than 5,700 wrong-way crashes on all types of Massachusetts roads between 2018 and 2025.

Divided highways like I-93 are the deadliest setting: AAA Northeast found the fatality rate there was more than five times higher than on undivided roads, with 55 people killed in 448 crashes on roads with median barriers over that seven-year span.

The South Boston crash also fits a national trend, as AAA Northeast noted that fatal wrong-way crashes nationwide nearly doubled on divided highways between 2014 and 2023. That is part of why these collisions have drawn so much attention from safety researchers and Massachusetts policymakers.

Why Do Wrong-Way Drivers End Up Going the Wrong Direction at Night?

Wrong-way crashes cluster in the overnight and weekend hours, and the South Boston collision followed that pattern almost exactly. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that roughly six in ten wrong-way drivers in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration at or above the legal limit of 0.08, and late nights and weekends are simply when impaired driving is most common.

Two other factors the AAA Foundation flagged are visible in this case as well: older age, with drivers over 70 over-represented in wrong-way crashes, and driving alone, since nearly 87 percent of wrong-way drivers had no passenger to catch the mistake.

In darkness, a driver who has entered a ramp the wrong way may not register the signs meant to stop them, and oncoming drivers have far less time to react. None of this excuses the conduct, but it helps explain why a crash like this one was so hard to avoid once it began.

Where on the Road Are These Crashes Most Likely Near Boston and the South Shore?

The highest-risk spots are divided highways and their ramps, where a driver going against traffic meets oncoming vehicles head-on, exactly as happened on I-93. The Southeast Expressway, the stretch of I-93 that also carries U.S. Route 1 and Route 3 through South Boston, Quincy, and Milton, is the single limited-access route running south out of the city, which concentrates an enormous volume of traffic onto a small footprint.

That footprint includes the Braintree Split, the Exit 7 interchange on the Braintree and Quincy city line where I-93, Route 3, and U.S. 1 converge. Weekday traffic there averages 250,000 to 275,000 vehicles, and a 2006 Boston Region MPO study documented short weaves, lane drops, and line-of-sight problems built into its geometry.

Surface connectors that feed the highway, such as Burgin Parkway and Route 3A in Quincy, are also places where a disoriented driver can end up pointed the wrong way after dark.

What Should You Do If You See a Wrong-Way Driver on I-93?

AAA advises drivers to slow down and steer as far to the right as possible, because wrong-way drivers tend to occupy the lane closest to the median, which is your left lane. Moving right opens the widest possible gap between you and the oncoming vehicle.

A few more habits help. Keep your headlights on after dusk so a confused driver has a better chance of realizing their error, resist the urge to swerve left into the path the driver is most likely to follow, and call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so. On a stretch as busy as the Southeast Expressway, a quick report can give other drivers and state troopers precious time to respond.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Wrong-Way Collision in MA?

In a wrong-way crash, the driver who entered against traffic bears primary responsibility, but liability is rarely the only question that matters. Massachusetts is a no-fault state, so your own personal injury protection coverage pays the first layer of benefits regardless of fault, and you can step outside that system to bring a claim against the at-fault driver only once your injuries meet the tort threshold in M.G.L. c. 231, section 6D, such as medical bills above $2,000, a fracture, or permanent disfigurement.

Other parties can sometimes share responsibility too, so if a bar over-served a visibly intoxicated patron or a roadway hazard played a part, those avenues may be worth investigating. Wrong-way drivers may carry only minimum liability coverage, so an injured victim's own underinsured motorist coverage can also become an important source of recovery.

Sorting through these layers is one reason it helps to talk with a car accident lawyer in Quincy early, while dashcam footage, 911 audio, and vehicle data are still available.

What Legal Options Do Families Have If a Wrong-Way Crash Turns Fatal?

When a wrong-way crash claims a life, Massachusetts law may allow surviving family members to bring a wrongful death claim, and that civil case can proceed separately from any criminal charges the wrong-way driver may face. Damages can include funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, and the loss of the companionship and guidance the person would have provided.

Timing matters here. Massachusetts allows three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit under M.G.L. c. 260, section 2A, but evidence is most useful when it is gathered early.

Where a case is heard depends on its size; serious head-on injury and wrongful death claims, which often exceed $50,000, proceed in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, while smaller civil disputes involving Quincy-area drivers are handled in Quincy District Court at 1 Dennis Ryan Parkway.

What Is Massachusetts Doing to Prevent the Next Wrong-Way Crash?

Crashes like this one have pushed the state to act. In June 2026, just weeks before the I-93 collision, Governor Maura Healey announced a statewide initiative, estimated at up to $75 million, targeting more than 500 high-risk locations where driver confusion or roadway design makes wrong-way entry more likely, according to Mass.gov.

The plan pairs low-tech and high-tech fixes. MassDOT will add pavement markings and clearer signage while retrofitting roughly 430 locations with detection technology that identifies wrong-way movements, triggers flashing LED warning lights, and alerts state police in real time. State leaders point to early successes, including a Danvers system that prompted a wrong-way driver to turn around safely before any crash.

Frequently Asked Questions About the I-93 Wrong-Way Crash

Who was at fault in the I-93 South Boston wrong-way crash?

Authorities are still investigating, but the driver who traveled the wrong way on the highway may bear primary responsibility in crashes like this one.

Can the injured family pursue a claim even though the wrong-way driver was hurt too?

Yes, an at-fault driver's own injuries do not prevent the people they harmed from pursuing a claim for their losses.

How long do Massachusetts crash victims have to take legal action?

Massachusetts allows three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit under M.G.L. c. 260, section 2A, though acting sooner helps preserve evidence.

How Fiorentino Legal Helps After a Wrong-Way Crash in Quincy

A wrong-way crash can leave a family facing serious injuries, sudden loss, and questions no one feels ready to answer. Attorney Christopher Fiorentino is a Quincy lawyer and former prosecutor who has represented Massachusetts residents in personal injury and wrongful death claims in Quincy for over a decade.

Our team can review what happened, identify the coverage that may apply, and deal with the insurers so you do not have to. When you are ready to talk, we invite you to contact our Quincy office or call (617) 990-2568.

Last reviewed: June 2026

This post was reviewed by Christopher J. Fiorentino, licensed in Massachusetts since 2014.

Content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney for guidance specific to your situation.