AAA: More Than 2,000 Killed In Wrong Way Crashes Between 2015 And 2018

New data just released by AAA shows that deadly wrong-way crashes are on the rise.

One Green Country woman says her life was changed forever after a drunk driver made a wrong turn.

"We miss him like crazy, every day, everything we do, we miss him," said Angela Alderman.

Alderman still struggles with the loss of her husband Mark, who was killed in 2015 when a woman who was drunk and high, drove the wrong way on Highway 412, hitting him head-on.

"He was everything to our family, and he's gone. He was the head of it," said Alderman.

She said at just 52-years-old, he was taken too soon, away from his wife of 20 years, three children, and their grandkids. Unfortunately, Mark isn't alone. AAA says more than 2,000 people were killed nationwide between 2015 and 2018 in crashes caused by wrong-way drivers. They say those numbers are up 34% from previous years.

“Whenever we hear a call of a wrong-way collision occurring, we immediately start all the resources that we can to provide quick assistance to that crash scene as soon as possible," said OHP Trooper Mark Southall.

He says in his experience about half of these crashes are caused by impaired drivers, the other half by confused elderly drivers.

"They're a horrible situation and when we have those crashes, very rarely are they ever minor," Southall said.

In light of the increase in fatal wrong-way crashes, AAA and the NTSB are pushing for more countermeasures to prevent these tragedies, such as enhanced sobriety checkpoints, driver refresher courses for older adults, and signs and signals that are more visible. Angela has her own advice for people before they get behind the wheel.

"Be more careful, watch what you're doing, don't drink and drive, don't get high and drive ... you're killing somebody's family and how would they feel if it was their family," Alderman said.