A pedestrian was killed Tuesday night in a hit-and-run crash along the 6300 block of East Northwest Highway in northeast Dallas, according to city officials. Dallas Fire-Rescue crews responded, but the person was pronounced dead at the scene.
What investigators said
In a press release obtained by WFAA, Dallas police said officers and Dallas Fire-Rescue arrived to find that the driver involved had already left the area. The suspect had not been immediately identified, and investigators were canvassing for witnesses and for any nearby surveillance or dash-cam footage that could help them piece together how the crash happened.
Northwest Highway's safety record
The collision happened on a busy arterial where pedestrian crashes have long worried neighbors and city leaders. NBC 5 Investigates has documented multiple deadly wrecks along Loop 12/Northwest Highway and reported that while enforcement and engineering changes have reduced deaths on some parts of the corridor, serious safety gaps remain.
Potential criminal charges
Under Texas law, a driver who leaves the scene of a crash that results in death can face felony charges, and motorists are required to stop and render aid after an accident. Those duties and the penalties for ignoring them are spelled out in the Texas Transportation Code.
How to help investigators
Police are asking anyone who saw the crash or who may have video of it to contact Dallas police, according to WFAA. Investigators typically urge drivers with dash-cams and nearby businesses with surveillance systems to share any relevant footage to help identify the vehicle and the driver involved.
The fatal crash is the latest reminder of how vulnerable people on foot are along high-speed corridors, and it reinforces calls from safety advocates and city officials for more traffic-calming and safer crossings across Dallas. NBC 5 Investigates has followed efforts to push for those changes in recent years.
