Car and Truck Racing on Airport Freeway Send Two to Fort Worth, Texas Hospital
Two people were badly injured early this morning after a pickup truck and a car decided to race down the westbound lanes of Airport Freeway in North Richland Hills, Texas. The truck hit a car (that was not involved in the race) and the truck spun out of control, off the freeway and landing twisted up around a tree. The driver of the truck which caused this motor vehicle collision was a 23-year-old Keller man who was taken to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth with critical bodily injuries. While the other racer kept on driving, the uninvolved driver of the car that was hit was also taken to Harris with unknown injuries. It is unknown at this point if alcohol was involved.
How do these dangerous racing events come about? Police and experts say that they arise in three situations:
1) Spontaneous contests when drivers end up at the same light at the same time
2) Roving parties where racers and their friends take over the highways, and
3) Planned events on a remote road where races are for money
Due to the incredibly dangerous speeds people drive when they “street race,” serious injuries almost always result for those involved. And also for those unsuspecting motorists who happen to be in the way. I understand the feeling of excitement that comes with getting your license when you turn 16. The thrill of driving on one’s own often makes young people feel invincible. But by the time you’re 23, you should know better than to race someone on the freeway in the middle of the night.
And the fact that the other racer was able to speed off from the accident scene without punishment bothers me. I hope the local Police are able to track him down. If located, I assume that he will face criminal charges for leaving the scene of an accident in addition to some sort of reckless endangerment charges relating to the racing. The poor guy who landed in the hospital that wasn’t involved in the race must hope that the pickup driver liability insurance as mandated by the State of Texas.
