Friday afternoon turned tense just south of Benbrook when a pair of crashes brought SH 171 and the nearby US 377 intersection to a standstill.
The Cresson Volunteer Fire Department reported that the first accident happened just before 3 p.m., blocking the entire highway about half a mile south of US 377. Traffic backed up quickly, and it took about an hour to clear the scene.
Fifteen minutes after crews reopened the road, another wreck unfolded at the US 377 and SH 171 intersection, marking the department’s third call of the day. Delays stretched into the late afternoon, but by 5 p.m. traffic finally settled back into a normal flow.
One witness described the moment the second crash happened while stopped at a red light. He jumped out of his work truck, climbed onto a nearby vehicle and pulled open a jammed door on another truck to help free those inside. He cut through deployed airbags to reach the occupants and keep them calm until responders arrived.
Alongside the quick actions of bystanders and first responders, the incident stirred a familiar frustration among long time Texas drivers. Some say the rise in red light running has become more noticeable in recent years, creating dangerous moments at intersections across the region.
Friday’s events served as a reminder of how fast a normal afternoon can shift and how much these roadways rely on split second decisions, steady heads and basic caution to keep everyone safe.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.