Two fatal crashes have occurred within a mile of each other in the last couple of months on a stretch of Loop 12 in Oak Cliff. On August 23rd, Dr. Sikandar, a doctor at the VA, was killed turning across traffic on Loop 12 at Brook Spring Dr.
Loop 12 is the source of many traffic fatalities in Dallas. It is a focus area for the Dallas Vision Zero program, but being a state highway, little can be done without TxDOT action.
Earlier this month, it was announced that there are plans to add 15 new traffic signals and crosswalks, consolidate bus stops near safer crossings, and install lighting along the entire corridor. But, TxDOT said these changes could take up to 18 months. Already, 18 people have died in traffic crashes on the loop this year.
Records obtained by WFAA show the City of Dallas responded to more than 870 accidents along Ledbetter Drive near Loop 12 from January 1, 2023, to September 10, 2024. North Central Texas Council of Governments said there have been more than a dozen fatalities.
Last month, a teenager walking to school was killed by a distracted driver, and a woman driving with six children was hit by a speeding driver.
Additionally, resident Doug Taylor is working with District 1 council member Chad West on a Vision Zero project at the intersection of Sylvan/Tyler/Colorado which has seen a recent fatality and several injury crashes. It has been funded through the recent bond issue, but the neighbors have been “kept in the dark” by City staff as to whether the engineering work underway will actually address their concerns or is simply going to be a traffic signal replacement project.
The most recent fatality was a crash at a dip on Sylvan. Between Colorado and Rainbow, a creek flows under the street. The dip in the road and sharp turn have caused a number of crashes.
Taylor says they finally got the traffic engineers to put up a temporary barrier a few months ago, but it’s been hit so many times they had to send a crew out to reset it. Nothing in the contract indicates any prioritization for remediation and they have been told they are not allowed to contact the engineers to ensure it is in scope.
