EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 City officials are considering new steps to reduce the risk of serious crashes involving commercial vehicles on Transmountain after a deadly crash on Monday in which a semi\u2019s brakes failed, triggering a multi-vehicle crash that killed a man. <\/p>\n
City Rep. Alejandra Chavez has proposed an item for the Oct. 27 City Council meeting to discuss potential restrictions or alternate routes for commercial traffic.<\/p>\n
Speaking to KFOX14\/CBS4 on Wednesday, Chavez, who is up for reelection, said the item will direct the city manager and the city attorney to collaborate along with the Texas Department of Transportation to divert heavy commercial traffic coming across Transmountain Road. <\/p>\n
“At this time we just want to explore what the options are, and then in 30 days the city manager will come back to us and give us those options so we can decide how to move forward. It’s going to take collaboration with TxDOT, but it’s also taking collaboration with our police department and other safety measures that we can maybe implement,” Chavez said.<\/p>\n
Chavez said that the agenda item will explore other options for how to prevent crashes, pointing to concerns over TxDOT’s runaway ramp, which was not used to prevent Monday’s crash.<\/p>\n
“We do not want another deadly crash on Transmountain. So we need to make sure that we collaborate with TxDOT. The runaway ramp unfortunately did not prevent the crash that just happened recently. So we want to make that we explore all options to see if we can divert heavy commercial traffic from using Trans Mountain and use an alternative route.”<\/p>\n
Following years of deadly wrecks on the steep grade, including a previous incident where a runaway semi-truck caused a massive explosion that killed one person and injured six others, TxDOT opened the first mechanical runaway truck ramp in Texas.<\/p>\n
In a statement to KFOX14\/CBS4, TxDOT confirmed that while the runaway truck ramp has been open since July, it has not been used.<\/p>\n
“The mechanical runaway truck ramp, which opened July 1 and is the first of its kind installed in Texas, has not been used. It is fully operational and available for use, a TxDOT spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
Brandon Muth reports on City Rep. Alejandra Chavez proposing ways to prevent commercial traffic crashes on Transmountain<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
READ THE FULL ITEM:<\/p>\n
D1- TxDOT Commercial Truck TrafficPDF previewPreview PDF<\/p>\n
View PDF<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, the proposed item is not the only action being taken by city leaders to prevent crashes on Transmountain. <\/p>\n On Tuesday, in response to Monday’s deadly crash, Mayor Renard Johnson and El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas introduced the “Enough is Enough” initiative, which will inspect commercial vehicles going through Transmountain effective immediately.<\/p>\n RELATED: <\/a>El Paso launches ‘Enough is Enough’ truck inspections after deadly Transmountain crash<\/a><\/p>\n The step in enforcement comes in response to the eight-vehicle crash on Loop 375 in Northwest El Paso near Transmountain on Monday morning that left one person dead and another seriously injured, which was caused by a reported brake failure of a truck tractor pulling a semitrailer, according to authorities.<\/p>\n Investigators said a truck tractor pulling a semitrailer was traveling southbound on Loop 375 approaching the intersection of North Desert when the driver reported brake failure and proceeded through the intersection.<\/p>\n Police said the semitrailer continued south and sideswiped a Toyota RAV4, pushing that vehicle into a Ford F-150 at the intersection of South Desert. The semitrailer then struck a Chevrolet Colorado, killing the driver at the scene, police said.<\/p>\n EPPD said that the driver has been identified as 42-year-old Rene Dario Perez-Ramirez, a West El Paso resident.<\/p>\n However, Monday’s crash is only the latest in a slew of crashes on Transmountain Road. <\/p>\n In late August, a semi-truck crash near Desert South at Transmountain resulted in two people being hospitalized with minor injuries, an incident that occurred after the truck appeared to pass the recently opened runaway truck ramp.<\/p>\n The frequency of these incidents has led to ongoing discussions regarding roadway safety and infrastructure.<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: EPPD to detail new Northeast El Paso commercial vehicle inspections after deadly crash<\/a><\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: Transmountain overpass crash shuts down Loop 375 at I-10; one person dead<\/a><\/p>\n