Another pedestrian crash on Southeast Military Drive has District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran talking about bringing in traffic officers and a mobile speed‑feedback trailer to calm drivers on the busy South Side corridor. The discussion comes just months after the city added lights and signals to a mid‑block crosswalk there last fall. On Tuesday evening, a 63‑year‑old woman trying to cross between Old Corpus Christi Road and South Presa Street was hit and left with a broken ankle. Relatives and neighbors at the scene said the latest collision stirred up fresh grief after two deadly crashes on the same stretch last summer.
According to KSAT, the crash happened just after 7 p.m. A preliminary San Antonio Police Department report stated that the driver stayed at the scene and no arrests were made. Family members who gathered afterward told KSAT that seeing yet another pedestrian struck on that block "brings back bad memories" for them.
Where the corridor fits in city safety plans
Southeast Military Drive is on the city's official High‑Injury Network and falls under the umbrella of Vision Zero San Antonio, a program that zeroes in on streets with repeated severe crashes. According to Vision Zero San Antonio, the effort leans on engineering, enforcement and education, and offers detailed maps along with a 311 reporting pathway so neighbors can flag problem locations.
Upgrades that followed last summer's tragedies
Last August, two people, including a pregnant woman, were struck on the same stretch of Southeast Military Drive. In the aftermath, the city and VIA moved a bus stop and finished crosswalk upgrades that added new lights and a red signal by November. KSAT reported that the work wrapped up on Nov. 13 after weeks of pressure from victims' relatives and neighborhood advocates who kept the heat on City Hall.
Residents call for permanent fixes
Neighbors say the fresh hardware helps but does not fully solve the problem, and some have started pushing for a permanent four‑way traffic signal at Southeast Military Drive and Old Corpus Christi Road. Jesse Espitia, whose sister Jeanette and her unborn child died in the August collision, has been at the forefront of those efforts. He told reporters that his family pressed for the November safety upgrades and is still pushing for deeper, long‑term changes on the corridor.
What officials say they'll try next
Viagran's office says its focus now is on accountability, awareness and education while it works with Transportation and Public Works to examine how drivers, walkers and cyclists share Southeast Military Drive. Officials have told neighborhood leaders they are reviewing crosswalk visibility and signal timing and are willing to test tougher enforcement tools, including more traffic officers in the area and a speed‑feedback trailer, to slow vehicles and better protect people trying to cross.
How neighbors can push for change
Residents who want to flag dangerous crossings can call 311 or use the city's Vision Zero resources to request a formal safety review. The Transportation Department's Vision Zero pages outline maps, outreach materials and step‑by‑step guidance for requesting street‑level changes and setting up community presentations. For more information, visit Vision Zero San Antonio.
