CHATTANOOGA, TN — A wrong way collision on Highway 27 in Chattanooga killed one driver early Sunday, according to the Chattanooga Police Department. Investigators said the crash happened around 2 a.m. on a half-mile stretch of the northbound lanes.
Police said a Mazda CX-5 was traveling south in the northbound lanes when it struck a Mercedes CLS 550 head on. Both drivers were taken to a hospital with serious injuries, and the 46-year-old driver of the Mercedes later died.
Police say the Mazda entered the northbound lanes traveling the wrong direction
Chattanooga Police Department traffic and DUI investigators are handling the case. Their account says the Mazda was moving the opposite direction of traffic when it reached the crash scene on Highway 27.
The collision took place on a short stretch of roadway, covering about half a mile of the northbound side. Authorities have not said why the Mazda was in the wrong lanes or whether impairment is being considered as part of the investigation.
Because the investigation is still open, police have not released additional details about the people involved beyond the vehicles and the fatality. No further information about the circumstances of the impact has been made public.
Both drivers suffered serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital
Emergency crews transported both motorists to the hospital after the crash. Police described the injuries as serious for both drivers at the time they were taken for treatment.
The Mercedes driver, a 46-year-old, died from those injuries after arriving at the hospital. Chattanooga police did not immediately release the name of the person who died.
Details about the Mazda driver’s condition were not provided beyond the initial statement that the person also suffered serious injuries. Police have not said whether any citations, charges or arrests are connected to the crash.
Highway 27 remained the focus of an active traffic investigation
The crash happened during the early hours of Sunday morning, when traffic volume is typically lighter but high-speed conditions can still make wrong way driving especially dangerous. The stretch of Highway 27 involved is a major route in Chattanooga and a key corridor for local traffic.
Traffic and DUI investigators responded, which suggests police are examining both the mechanics of the crash and any possible impairment issues. Officials have not announced any findings or offered a timeline for when the investigation may be completed.
For now, the case remains open, and investigators are still working to piece together exactly how the vehicles came together on the northbound side.
Police have not released the victim's name or the cause of the wrong way driving
As of the latest update, Chattanooga police had not identified the Mercedes driver publicly. The agency also had not said what caused the Mazda to travel southbound in the northbound lanes.
In fatal collisions, investigators often review roadway evidence, vehicle positions and witness accounts to determine how a crash unfolded. Here, police have only confirmed the wrong way travel, the head on impact and the fatal outcome for one driver.
Until more information is released, the central facts remain limited to the time, location and the two vehicles involved. Police say the case is still developing.
What the crash means for drivers on a major Chattanooga route
Wrong way collisions are among the most severe traffic crashes because they often happen at higher speeds and leave drivers with little time to react. On a route like Highway 27, even a brief entry into the wrong lane can create a life threatening situation.
This case also underscores why investigators from the traffic and DUI units were sent to the scene. Their work often focuses on whether alcohol, drugs, fatigue or confusion contributed to a driver entering traffic in the wrong direction.
Police have not said whether any of those factors were present. For now, the fatal crash stands as an early Sunday reminder of how quickly a driving error can turn deadly on a busy city roadway.
