2 people killed in 2 wrong driver accidents in loop 410

SAINT ANTHONY – According to San Antonio police, two drivers died minutes apart in separate crashes caused by the same car going the wrong way on a South Side highway.

Police have identified the second dead driver as Jay Simon Mejia, 33, who was pronounced dead at 3:07 a.m. Thursday after his vehicle was hit head-on. The driver accused of causing the accident was identified by officials on Thursday afternoon as Alejandro Montoya Rodriguez, 26.

According to SAPD, the first crash occurred around 2:45 a.m. on the eastbound main lanes of Loop 410 on Roosevelt Road.

Police said a 2014 silver Mazda car was traveling east on the road when a vehicle approached in the wrong direction.

The driver of the Mazda swerved to lose the oncoming vehicle and crashed into the back of an 18-wheeled vehicle, causing his car to be wrapped under the large platform. The driver was pronounced dead at 3:04 a.m. and has not been identified.

Police said Rodriguez, the driver of the wrong road, continued to head west along the eastbound lanes and caused two more crashes.

Rodriguez’s car crashed head-on into Mejia’s vehicle, causing both to turn, officials said.

Mejia’s vehicle landed next to the driver in a half-grass between the main lanes and the access road.

Police said Rodriguez and his passenger got out of the vehicle before it ignited.

Both were taken to University Hospital.

Police say Rodriguez was intoxicated at the time of the crashes and faces two counts of homicide.