TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — North Texas musician Evan Ranallo faces a long recovery after a devastating wrong-way crash on Oct. 27 that claimed five lives, including his fiancée, Chelsea Cook.
The incident occurred on Northwest Loop 820 near Marine Creek Reservoir in Fort Worth. Police said Johanna Newsome drove the wrong way onto the highway, colliding head-on with Ranallo’s pickup truck. The crash ignited a fire that tragically killed Newsome, her husband David, their two children, and Chelsea Cook.
Ranallo, who was returning home with Cook after dropping off band equipment, survived but sustained serious injuries. Fellow musician and best friend Kevin Scott is closely tracking Ranallo's recovery to know when he'll be able to join them again on stage.
"He's the heart and soul of a lot of the music scene here," Scott said. "He still has a couple of little complications but they said that he's doing better. He's kind of talking a lot more."
In response to the crash, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) added large "Do Not Enter" and "Wrong Way" signs to the 820 ramp.
Chelsea Cook’s family expressed gratitude for the changes but called for more measures to prevent wrong-way crashes, including enhanced enforcement, advanced technology, and physical barriers.
“We’re grateful that new signs have been put up, but there’s still much to be done,” Chelsea’s mother said in a statement. "TxDOT has had the End The Streak campaign for some time now. For over 24 years -- since November 7, 2000 -- there has not been a single day without a traffic fatality in the state of Texas. We would like to see TxDOT educate the public more effectively on the End The Streak effort."
When it comes to stopping wrong-way crashes, Chelsea's mother is not alone. Scott has the same hopes. He still has several unanswered questions about the crash, even after visiting the crash site to try to figure out how it happened.
"I totally hope that the signs help," Scott said.
WFAA reached out to TxDOT to ask about its preventative measures for wrong-way crashes and it provided the following statement:
In the DFW Metroplex, TxDOT uses a multi-pronged approach to address wrong-way driving incidents. Where deployed, over 90% of vehicles have turned around after seeing flashing lights activated by their going the wrong way. In addition to driving detection systems, we use lowered Do Not Enter signs, pavement markings, and additional signage. Safety is our top priority. Mitigation work consisting of 71 signs, including larger Wrong Way signs and lowered Do Not Enter signs, was completed this weekend for the following locations: IH 820 and FM 1220, and IH 820 and SH 199.
Overall, in the Metroplex, TxDOT has invested close to $3.2 million in wrong-way driver detection and plans to spend $6 million in the coming years.
We continue our efforts to enhance safety while also encouraging the public to drive sober, follow speed limits, and eliminate distractions.
To support Ranallo’s recovery, Scott and other musicians are organizing a benefit concert on Dec. 14 at O’Shea’s in Hurst. All proceeds from the event will go directly to help Evan with his medical expenses and long-term care needs.
The event will be open to the public and people who want to make donations for Ranallo can do so to any band members who are a part of The Villian Band, the So Long Goodnight Band, Arms of Sorrow Band, Dynamaxx Band, The Elite Deftones Band and the Tooks DFW Band.
“Our goal is to make his life as comfortable as possible after this,” Scott said. “He’s got a long road ahead, and we’re here to support him every step of the way.”