Coalition pushes for traffic changes after crash in Helotes kills parents of 4 children

HELOTES, Texas – Steve Mendoza of COPS Metro Alliance said a crash Sunday night in Helotes that killed the parents of four children should have not happened and blamed the fatality on the traffic environment in the area.

“We need to address the factors that caused this accident,” Mendez said.

Helotes police said that the family of six were traveling in a van on Bandera Road near Diamond K Trail around 6:30 p.m. when the vehicle cut across the front of a pickup truck. Both of the parents died on impact, police said.

The driver of the pickup and the four children, between the ages of 2 and 16, were taken to University Hospital.

Police said the family had been visiting from out of state.

“As a Helotes resident, we’re really saddened for those people,” Mendez said.

Although police believe the crash is an accident, it’s still being investigated.

Mendez believes the crash is part of a larger problem that needs to be addressed.

He said it’s not the first time the road has raised concerns for the coalition. He said speed is a major problem.

“Traffic needs to slow down. It’s a highway going through a very rural area,” Mendez said.

He said COPS Metro Alliance is working to bring more attention to area. Mendez hopes to see the speed limit lowered, which he said is long overdue.

“We will continue to be addressing this with the city, especially excessive speed,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the city of Helotes released the following statement regarding traffic conditions in the area.

“The city is continual conversations with TxDOT to discuss ways to improve roads and make them safer for drivers,” the statement said.