An unfortunate accident on Harry Hines Blvd. last night has left one person dead and police searching for the driver who didn’t stop to help.
The deceased, Fort Worth resident Teresa Rodriguez, was crossing Harry Hines, just north of Northwest Highway, when she was hit by a car and thrown 60 feet. She was not using a crosswalk at the time and was pronounced dead at Parkland hospital. The driver of the vehicle never stopped.If you’ve visited this section of Harry Hines, you’re probably aware that a large number of Dallas residents flock there for it’s nightclubs and bars. The lack of parking has been cited as an issue for local venues – as it requires patrons to park several blocks away and travel on foot. Although this has not been confirmed, it’s possible this is why Ms. Rodriguez was trying to cross the street at that hour of the night.
The entire situation is bad. A car accident lawyer could argue fault in any number of ways. On the one hand, Ms. Rodriguez was jaywalking at the time of accident. Crosswalks are useful during the day, but they are critical at night when visibility is diminished. The bright stripes bordering crosswalks reflect street lamps and headlights well to alert drivers to an area of special attention. Not using one, at night especially, is incredibly dangerous.
On the other hand, Fox news reports the green, mid size car was “speeding” when it hit her. Dallas drivers know that with diminished visibility comes decreased time to react (e.g. you may not see someone in the road in front of you until it’s too late). Keeping your speed in check while night driving is imperative. Additionally, the driver did not stop to help. There are any number of reasons for this – but in many hit and run cases, the driver knew that he or she was doing something wrong when the accident occurred and flees to avoid owning up. It’s possible the driver had been drinking or was distracted by texting when the wreck occurred. It’s also possible he or she was not at fault but simply panicked after the accident and left.
Many of these questions will remain unanswered until the driver of this hit and run is found and questioned. Owning up the involvement in tragedies like this is difficult, but necessary to supporting the healthy growth of any community. Jeff Rasansky encourages this driver to step forward and help resolve this matter.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Ms. Rodriguez. May you find comfort in your grief.
Drive safely, Dallas.
