Lawmakers are set to meet to propose safety increases for the highway. A petition for safety changes surpass signature goal.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Calls for safety improvements along Highway 361 between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas are growing following two deadly crashes in the span of one week.
Three people were killed in the two crashes, prompting increased law enforcement patrols and renewed calls for changes to the highway.
The Corpus Christi Police Department says its traffic unit has increased patrols along the Corpus Christi side of Highway 361. The Texas Department of Public Safety also says troopers are patrolling the stretch of 361 from Padre Island to Port Aransas.
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The increased enforcement comes after two fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles.
The first crash happened Monday near Beach Access Road 2.
According to police, a driver swerved into the northbound lanes and struck another vehicle. A 59-year-old man was killed.
Days later, on Friday, another deadly crash happened north of Beach Access Road 3 involving four vehicles.
Police say an at-fault driver struck another vehicle from behind, forcing that vehicle into oncoming traffic. That led to a collision with another vehicle.
The victims were identified as Robert and Karen Lopez, a husband and wife who were both Marine Corps veterans and parents of six children.
Police say neither crash is believed to have involved alcohol.
The recent crashes have renewed concerns about the safety of Highway 361, where deadly collisions have occurred over the years.
According to DPS crash records cited by law enforcement, there have been 19 fatal crashes along this stretch of Highway 361 since January 2016.
Nine occurred on the Corpus Christi side, seven on the Port Aransas side and three near Aransas Pass.
For David Jensen, the issue is personal.
Jensen says his father was killed in a crash on Highway 361 in Port Aransas.
“Every time I hear about an accident, it hits close to home,” Jensen said.
That experience motivated him to start an online petition calling for safety improvements along the highway.
Jensen initially set a goal of 1,000 signatures.
The petition quickly surpassed that number. He then raised the goal to 2,500, but says the petition has now received more than 3,000 signatures.
Jensen says the response demonstrates how strongly residents feel about the safety of the roadway.
“I started this petition to give the community a voice regarding the safety concerns and hazards that we have on 361,” Jensen said. “The traffic’s up, the risks are up, and families are paying the price.”
His primary request is for a continuous median barrier, where it can safely be installed, to help prevent head-on collisions.
Jensen says he believes crash data can help identify areas where a barrier would be most effective.
“Ideally, the information’s out there that kind of shows where the bottleneck areas are and where the traffic accidents typically occur,” Jensen said. “But a continuous barrier to stop head-ons where it can be applied would be the ask.”
He says the goal is not simply to draw attention to the problem, but to demonstrate that the community is ready for action.
“Giving a platform for the community to stand up and say that we’re ready for change,” Jensen said.
TxDOT already has plans for improvements to the roadway, but local state leaders now want those efforts to move faster.
State Representatives Todd Hunter and Denise Villalobos, along with State Senators Adam Hinojosa and Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, are scheduled to meet with TxDOT this week to discuss Highway 361.
Hunter said Highway 361 is “important and a priority” and added, “Time for action is now.”
For Jensen, the meeting represents an important step.
“It’s great to see the response from the representatives,” Jensen said. “It’s great to know that they’re expediting the meetings and getting those done sooner than later to try to prevent any more accidents along the way.”
Jensen welcomed the increased law enforcement presence but said another fatal crash occurring after he launched the petition reinforced his belief that longer-term safety improvements are needed.
“After starting the petition and then having another fatal accident on Friday, it was a push in my heart to know that we’re doing the right thing by standing up and saying something,” he said.
Jensen plans to take the petition directly to TxDOT and present the signatures as evidence of the community’s concerns.
He says he hopes to deliver the petition by the end of September, depending in part on the outcome of the meeting between local lawmakers and TxDOT.
For families who regularly travel Highway 361, the hope is that the recent crashes and the growing community response will lead to changes before more lives are lost.
Wendy Moore, Mayor of Port Aransas sent the following statement to 3NEWS:
“City leaders along with our state legislators are meeting with TXDOT this week to address safety concerns and the increasing number of accidents on HWY 361. We have been working with them recently to come up with some improvements to the highway that will reduce and prevent future accidents. The highway needs lighting and safety enhancements to address the increased number of travelers during certain times of the year. We are also looking at increased patrols on the highway as well. The safety of our residents and visitors is a priority and we are working hard to address it.”