Fort Worth police report deadly car crash linked to intersection

Fort Worth Police believe that the fatal car accident, which killed two people and injured two others, was related to the seizure of an intersection where cars blocked the road and moved with acceleration and drift.

Around 11:07 p.m. Sunday evening, Fort Worth police said officers were called to University Drive near West 7th Street and White Settlement Road, where they said several drivers had taken over the streets.

“The police arrived at the scene and turned on the lights in [the] hope these vehicles leave the area to reduce traffic congestion and obviously minimize injury to innocent people or other motorists on the roadway,” said Jimmy Pollozani, spokesman for the Fort Worth Police Department.

He said officers saw the red Camaro drive away with its headlights off. Pollozani said the officers did not follow the car, and that an officer on another call about a mile away saw the lights flicker, heard a loud bang, and heard people screaming.

“The officer ran in the indicated direction and saw an overturned red Camaro with four people inside,” Pollozani explained.

“It was a horrendous crash and it literally landed upside down at our front door,” said Craig Hertel, owner of Crash Brothers Paint and Body.

His business, which turns out to be a car repair shop, is located at the bottom of the hill where the Camaro landed. He said they saw the effects of several accidents outside of their business.

“This corner is a bit of a surprise and if you are driving past the speed limit, it will quickly catch up with you,” Hertel said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the red Camaro overspeeded, lost control at a roundabout, drove off a hill, crashed into utility lines, and then flipped onto its roof.

Two people were killed, including the driver and a passenger in the back seat, police said. Two other passengers survived but were seriously injured.

“No one wants to see someone lose their life, especially in your territory, and see that this morning was quite discouraging,” Hertel said.

The Fort Worth police said the crossroads seizure was a problem they are trying to solve.

“We have noticed that this is a problem in the Metroplex. We noticed that there were incidents where people died, as in this case. So we are doing everything we can with the resources we have to try to fight this and try to solve this problem to prevent a similar tragedy or injury or death of an innocent person because people wanted to go and take over the intersection and start drifting,” Pollozani said.

“It just makes no sense that this is happening. I know that the police are doing their best, but it seems to me that the trend is going in the wrong direction,” Hertel said.

Last May The leaders of the city and the police discussed ways to solve the problem.

“So we take it very seriously. We have made several arrests in the past. I know that a year ago we made over 50 arrests for these people illegally racing in a warehouse complex, and we ended up sending everyone to jail and taking their cars. So I want to make it clear that if we catch you even watching, you will go to jail,” Pollozani said.

Crossroad absorption is when people “drift” in the middle.

“Essentially, they put on the brakes, turn the wheels a certain distance, and then give them acceleration. They just keep drifting around in circles while people are in the middle of the recording and people are hanging outside the car. So we encourage these little kids if they feel like they need to race at Texas Motor Speedway and the car complex in Ennis, Texas, there are places where these kids can drive in a controlled environment to get out there and have the need for speed. They have drag racing and they can participate in a controlled environment that will not pose a risk to the public or other pedestrians, motorists on the roadway,” Pollozani said.

The identities of those killed in the plane crash on Sunday evening have not yet been released.