Crime Time

Fort Worth cops make anti-distracted-driving video

Fort Worth police respond to traffic accidents all day, every day.

And officers know that distracted drivers cause many of them. But they also know that they, too, can be distracted.

So last week, Maj. Paul Henderson, chief of staff, used Twitter to call attention to this PD-produced training video.

According to FWPD, "There are many distractions police officers are faced with every time they get behind the wheel. Our goal is to greatly reduce those distractions which in turn will reduce accidents and the risks associated with driving distracted. While the video is an over exaggeration for effect, it illustrates the dangers of trying to multi-task while driving. The video was filmed on location on a closed track within the secured area of the Fort Worth Police Training Facility."

 

 

Last fatality-free day on Texas roads was 12 years ago today

We can't remember when we've linked to another Star-Telegram blog, but here goes.

Gordon Dickson, who writes for the "Honkin' Mad" transportation blog, has a very interesting post about an unusual milestone in Texas.

Gordon writes that 12 years ago today was the last time Texas had a fatality-free day on its roads and highways.

Read the Honkin' Mad post here.

Big rig overturns east of downtown Fort Worth

An overturned truck caused traffic delays late Tuesday on Interstate 35, just east of downtown Fort Worth.

No other information was immediately available, but Brian Luenser, who lives downtown, took this photo at about 9:15 p.m
.

Arlington woman killed in Florida accident

Lisa M. McCrae, 42, of Arlington was killed early Monday morning in a one-car accident near Gainesville, Fla., the Gainesville Sun is reporting. The vehicle she was riding in went off the road to avoid a collision with a semi and hit a tree, and she died at the scene. The driver suffered serious injuries.

Fort Worth driver loses load of giant toilet paper in scenic river

Megarolls of soaked toilet paper are clogging Idaho's Wild and Scenic Lochsa River after a driver from Fort Worth lost control of a semi on a curve and hit a guardrail, dumping the load. Picture this: Each roll weighs 8,000 pounds dry. But soaked, the Missoulian reports, the rolls are likely 30,000 pounds a piece. The driver Mahmoud Salameh, 24, was ticketed for inattentive driving, the paper reports. Authorities are trying to figure out how to flush the paper from the stream.

Arlington police step up presence around retail centers

With the holiday season in full swing, Arlington police have stepped up patrols at the city's prime retail spots in attempt to prevent criminals from ruining the shopping experience and ease the flow of traffic.

Skywatch towers have also been placed in shopping areas such as The Parks at Arlington mall and the Arlington Highlands. Police are also using bait cars to try to catch car thieves in the act.

As they did on Black Friday, police will be coordinating traffic around retail areas on the busiest shopping days. In the parking lots of the busiest shopping centers, bike and foot patrols will also be deployed to deter crime.

Read more here.

- Patrick M. Walker

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/29/2665320/arlington-police-step-up-presence.html#ixzz16iYexMeI

Police: Lord Jesus Christ hit by car in crosswalk

A minor pedestrian accident generally doesn't get much notice -- until you see the name of the victim.

Lord Jesus Christ.

Police in Northampton, Mass., say that a 50-year-old man whose real name is Lord Jesus Christ received  minor facial injuries when he was struck by a car while in a crosswalk.

Christ was treated and released at a hospital. The 20-year-old driver was cited, the Associated Press reported.

-- Lance Murray

Woman saves 2 kids from burning SUV, then dies in flames

A tragic story from El Paso -- a woman involved in a crash on Interstate 10 saved the lives of two children in her burning SUV Wednesday afternoon and then died when she couldn't escape the inferno.

Police said as the overturned SUV began to burn, the woman handed the children to two rescuers who stopped on the highway to help. But then she was unable to escape as the flames intensified.

Investigators aren't sure what caused the vehicle to turn on its side about 4 p.m., The El Paso Times reported.

-- Lance Murray

Teen driver arrested in death of 72-year-old motorcyclist

Garland police have arrested an 18-year-old woman from Richardson in connection with last week's fatal crash that killed a 72-year-old motorcyclist. 

Joe Harn, a Garland police spokesman, said the driver was tracked down based on tips that described the vehicle and license plate.

Charles King of Dallas died on LBJ Freeway near Centerville Road after his bike was clipped by a car and he fell beneath an 18-wheeler. The driver left the scene.

Harn said police probably would have treated the crash as an accident had the driver, Tasha Hayes (right), stayed at the scene.

-- Kathy Vetter

Video: Car comes within inches of hitting deputy

A Dallas County Sheriff's deputy narrowly escaped injury or death recently when a car came within inches of striking him as he stood on the side of Interstate 20 next to his patrol car.

Channel 5 has a dashcam video that shows just how close this call was.

View it here.

-- Lance Murray