{"id":212058,"date":"2025-09-09T05:49:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T05:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/212058\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T05:49:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T05:49:10","slug":"southeast-military-drive-safety-under-scrutiny-after-two-deadly-pedestrian-crashes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/212058\/","title":{"rendered":"Southeast Military Drive safety under scrutiny after two deadly pedestrian crashes"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 Tattered crime scene tape still hangs on Southeast Military Drive telephone poles, showing where deadly crashes have happened. <\/p>\n

In the last month, there have been two deadly crashes involving pedestrians between Old Corpus Christi Road and South Presa Street. Now, people living nearby are calling for change. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s ridiculous,\u201d Jesse Espitia said. \u201cThey (city leaders) don\u2019t hear the outcries of the community here.\u201d <\/p>\n

Jesse lost his sister, Jeanette, and her unborn child three weeks ago. She had gotten off the bus and was trying to cross<\/a> Southeast Military Drive at night on Aug. 21 when she was hit and killed<\/a>. KSAT covered a vigil<\/a> held for her on Aug. 26. <\/p>\n

Hours later, in the early morning of Aug. 27, San Antonio police said a 28-year-old man was hit and seriously injured while trying to cross Southeast Military Drive. On Monday, KSAT confirmed he died in the hospital. <\/p>\n

Police and the Bexar County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office identified him as Noah Patterson. <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it was going to keep happening, but I didn\u2019t think it was going to happen this close,\u201d Jesse said. \u201cI\u2019m going to fight for my sister and Noah and the baby.\u201d <\/p>\n

It\u2019s unlikely the driver in either case will face charges. Neither Espitia nor Patterson was crossing in a designated area. But Jesse says there\u2019s a reason why. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s broken,\u201d he said, referring to the crosswalk and flashing light that Public Works added back in 2019 to help with safety concerns in the area. The crosswalk was paid for through the city\u2019s Vision Zero program<\/a>, managed by the Texas Department of Transportation. <\/p>\n

On Monday, KSAT tried to use the crosswalk. While the flashing light works to get south across the street, trying to go north, one of the poles with a button to signal the lights is completely missing. <\/p>\n

Commuter Christopher Arrington said it\u2019s been that way for weeks. KSAT saw him dodging cars to get to the bus stop from work. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would have pressed the button, but I knew it was not going to work anyway,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t have no other option.\u201d <\/p>\n

KSAT met with District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran about the pedestrian concerns on Southeast Military Drive. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe just have this happening throughout the district,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re really trying to push forward and see if we can get resolutions through the Transportation Department, with TxDOT.\u201d <\/p>\n

Southeast Military Drive is a TxDOT road. A spokesperson for San Antonio\u2019s Public Works department said the city has to \u201cget approval\u201d from TxDOT before adding \u201cany new pedestrian amenities or traffic signals.\u201d <\/p>\n

A TxDOT spokesperson told KSAT \u201cthe signals and crosswalks are maintained by the City of San Antonio.\u201d<\/p>\n

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