Resolution reached in deadly Harbor Bridge Wrong-Way collision

A civil lawsuit that was filed as a result of a tragic wrong-way crash on the Harbor Bridge in November 2022, which resulted in the death of two individuals and injuries to another, has now been resolved. The lawsuit had been against Roxanne Palacios, the individual responsible for causing the crash, her former employer Flatiron-Dragados LLC, and Railroad Seafood and Brewing Company, where Palacios had been drinking prior to the accident. The crash claimed the lives of San Patricio County dispatcher Betsy Mandujano and Navy veteran Mathew Banda, while Janell Donaho, another driver, sustained a fractured ankle. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed by attorney Matt Manning. The tragic incident occurred when Palacios drove her vehicle north in the southbound lanes of US Highway 181 and collided with the victims' vehicle head-on, with Donaho subsequently hitting Palacios's vehicle. Palacios, who had been attending a company event at Railroad Seafood, was found to have a significantly high blood alcohol content level at the time of the crash. In April 2025, Palacios pleaded guilty to charges related to the crash and was sentenced to seven years in prison. In response to the increasing number of wrong-way accidents on the Harbor Bridge, safety measures, including the closure of certain exits and increased law enforcement presence, have been implemented to address the issue.