Even with most problematic ramps being closed 21 wrong-way drivers were still stopped in 2024.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It’s been more than two years since San Patricio County Sherriff’s Office dispatcher Betsy Mandujano and Mathew Banda were killed when Roxanne Palacios allegedly was driving the wrong way on the Harbor Bridge and caused their deaths.
Since then the Texas Department of Public Safety has been patrolling that stretch of Hwy. 181 and released new statistics Thursday on their progress in stopping the trend across the bridge.
For the last 21 months, Troopers have patrolled the area between Corpus Christi and Portland 24 hours a day.
They say troopers have made over 63,000 traffic stops:
- more than 6,900 of those speeding citations
- 598 DWI arrests, and;
- 805 seatbelt citations.
As of Dec. 16, DPS has stopped 21 wrong-way drivers.
DPS Sgt. Rob Mallory said going the wrong way on the Harbor Bridge could happen more easily than you think.
“A lot of times there’s people coming from the Downtown area — it is confusing,” he said. “There is a lot . . . going on Downtown. We have our Trooper there that sits at the Twigg exit ramp.”
Mallory said the Troopers sit at the exit watching for those wrong- way drivers from the roadways Downtown.
To ensure everyone in the community stays *safe from any harm – especially during this busy holiday travel time.
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