Two Vehicles Crash Into Homeowner's Property

Vehicles careening off the road and crashing through fences and yards have residents along West 18th Street between Ella and the West Loop worried after incidents on successive Saturday nights recently. A homeowner in Lazybrook at the corner of Locksford and West 18th had two instances of drivers losing control and crashing into his yard.

Larry Seitzler says that on one Saturday night, a truck left the road and crashed into the wooden fence alongside the house across from him. "The fence just exploded when the truck hit it," he said, "then it came right into my yard, crashed through my chain link fence, grazed the house, and then just lifted my air conditioning unit into the air, landing it in the truck bed." The truck continued on through his back yard, over a garden and then came to a stop at the back fence. He had barely finished making an insurance claim when the following Saturday night another vehicle lost control and came into his yard. This time a car hit the brick pillar adjacent to his wooden fence and sent bricks flying all over his yard. The driver continued driving through his yard and back onto the street. By then, Mr. Seitzler had bolted from his home and says he prevented the driver, a young woman, from driving away. In both instances, Mr. Seitzler says, the drivers of the vehicles were arrested.

Mr. Seitzler has now installed steel posts in front of his house to prevent vehicles from entering his yard. He has also spoken with a District Attorney and requested that the Houston Police DWI Task Force patrol this stretch of West 18th Street. He feels that there has been a marked increase in the number of speeding drivers on West 18th. "There needs to be more police patrols on this street," he says, "especially on Saturday nights." He is quick to add, however, that he has observed speeding vehicles at other times as well.

West 18th with its four lanes is becoming a raceway for drivers who are reckless, impaired,or challenging other drivers to a speed duel. Residents who live alongside the street are nervous about the potential harm an out of control vehicle could cause to life and property, and want better traffic enforcement. As far as Mr. Seitzler is concerned, he feels he had no choice but to erect a barrier in his yard. "We could not feel safe at night in our house without some way to stop a car from crashing into it."

(Near Northwest Banner, January 5, 2007)