A woman was struck and killed by two SUVs while trying to cross a Dallas street Friday night, authorities said.
The incident happened near the corner of John West Road and North Buckner Boulevard at about 7:30 p.m., as first reported by NBC DFW. Dallas police say the woman, whose identity has not been released, stepped off the curb near a divided median and was hit by the first SUV. She was thrown into the air and subsequently hit by a second SUV, according to authorities.
Both accidents occurred in an area that lacked a crosswalk for pedestrians to safely cross the bustling thoroughfare. The drivers of the involved vehicles stayed at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement, police briefed.
In the context of the accident, data from the Texas Department of Transportation, cited by The Dallas Express, suggested a 4.2% increase in pedestrian incidents last year, with 69 fatalities recorded amongst 661 injuries caused by traffic. In response to these figures, the Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax expressed his approval for a $27 million initiative aimed at improving pedestrian safety in Southern Dallas. "I am extremely proud of this award and what this project will do for the surrounding community and pedestrian safety," he stated.
This substantial financial investment in pedestrian safety involves a $21.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and a contribution of $5.25 million from the City of Dallas itself. The initiative's goal is to reduce the potential for tragedies such as the one that unfolded recently, ensuring safer passage for those traveling on foot.
