Witness to wrong-way Braga Bridge driver narrowly avoided colliding with car

SOMERSET, Mass. (WLNE) — Massachusetts State Police have released the identity of a woman killed in a wrong-way highway crash in Somerset Thursday night.

Gail Lopes, 69, of Tiverton, died at an area hospital after police say she was traveling westbound on 195 East on the Braga Bridge at approximately 7:45 p.m. and collided with another car after crossing into Somerset.

ABC6 Reporter Adam Zangari spoke with two drivers on the Braga Bridge at the same time as the wrong-way driver.

According to one of the drivers, Lopes’ vehicle entered the wrong side of 195 from an offramp in Fall River.

The witness said that thought Lopes was braking, she did not appear to attempt to turn around in an eastward direction.

The second driver who saw the wrong-way vehicle had a very close call with the car.

She saw a car in front of her suddenly swerve, and then saw the oncoming car’s headlights.

She was also able to swerve out of the way of the vehicle.

According to Jillian Young, Director of Public Relations for AAA Northeast, these drivers did the right thing.

“You only have so much time to react, but the best safety advice for drivers is to just be constantly scanning the road so you can see a wrong-way driver as soon as possible,” said Young.

Young went on to say that the best and safest course of action in the situation is to simply pull over until the wrong-way car has passed.

According to the office Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn, III, three vehicles involved in the crash were located by first responders.

The two drivers of the two vehicles driving east on the eastbound roadway were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles.

Video sent to ABC6 shows several cars swerving to avoid the wrong-way driver’s Toyota sedan.