BELL COUNTY – Community members in Little River Academy are pushing for safety improvements at an intersection after a deadly crash earlier this week.
Travis Mireles, 25, was killed Monday night around 9:30pm at the intersection of Old Highway 95 and FM 93 in Bell County between Little River Academy and Temple.
According to DPS, Mireles was a passenger in a pickup truck traveling north on Old 95. As they pulled out from the stop sign, they were hit by another pickup truck traveling east on FM 93 who had the right away with no stop sign.
Mireles was ejected and died at the scene.
“After the initial shock hits you the first thing I thought was, another one...this road has taken another person,” said Matthew Hanusch, a long time friend of Travis. “Ever since I was young there have been accidents on this road.”
With the support from Travis's family members, Matthew created a petition to install traffic signals at the intersection. He says the intersection is dangerous for a number of reasons including curves in the road, the speed limit on FM 93 that goes through the intersection, and low visibility especially at night. In just a matter of hours, hundreds had signed his petition. “We are tired. Enough is enough, and we want something done.”
According to crash data requested by KCEN, since 2010 there have been 17 reported crashes at this particular intersection not including Monday's fatal accident. Of those crashes, one was fatal in 2012, and another 11 had injuries or possible injuries. Statistics were not available for crashes that occurred before 2010.
The 2012 crash involved a Little River Academy school bus carrying 29 students that was hit by a Lowe's delivery truck. The bus driver was killed, and a student was paralyzed. TxDot conducted an intersection study after the crash that resulted in installing larger stop signs on Old 95, more rumble strips before each stop sign, and the speed limit was lowered to 50 miles per hour before getting to the stop signs.
“That was basically what I called putting a band aid on a gaping wound,” said Matthew.
Others are speaking out about the intersection and support additional safety measures including newly elected State Representative Hugh Shine who takes office in January.
“This has gone on too long. How many more lives are going to have to be lost before somebody really does something? Lets take action now,” said Shine. “Anything that's this important to a community I represent, I guarantee it will be a priority.”
County Commissioner Richard Cortese's precinct includes the intersection. He says he contacted TxDot Wednesday morning to request the intersection be re-evaluated after Monday's crash. TxDot confirms they will be evaluating the intersection to see if more safety measures need to be installed, as they do with all fatal crashes. At this time it is unclear when the evaluation will be conducted.
To see the Matthew's petition (click here).
