San Fernando Cemetery #2 repairing damage from out-of-control driver

Fence, 2 giants headstones damaged

SAN ANTONIO – A West Side cemetery has been left with an expensive repair bill for damage caused by an out-of-control driver.

The driver plowed through a chain link fence on Castroville Road late Monday night, crashing into at least two large headstones inside San Fernando Cemetery #2.

The granite headstones were knocked off their bases, and each was broken in two pieces, which were scattered across the grass.

"I feel bad for our families. Number one, because it's their headstones that are being destroyed," said Richard Corpus, who oversees the Catholic burial ground.

Corpus said the cemetery itself also feels the pain. It is left carrying the financial burden caused by drivers who often are behaving irresponsibly behind the wheel.

“We’ve had drunk drivers, people who say their cars were stolen,” Corpus said. “It’s a hardship because we’ll end up spending thousands of dollars replacing headstones and repairing anything that was damaged.”

The cemetery, unfortunately, has had to do it all before. 

Corpus said during the five years he has overseen the property, there have been no less than 10 such crashes.

In 2014, two drivers who reportedly were racing on the street crashed through a fence and destroyed about 20 headstones, causing some $20,000 in damage.

Another driver hit a tree and a headstone last year. The repair bill in that case totaled about $1,200.

Corpus said yet another driver came close to causing more trouble about two weeks ago when he knocked down a utility pole right outside the front gate.

"I would like to ask the public to slow down, you know, and have some respect for the cemetery,” Corpus said.

San Antonio police did not have a report available right away on Monday night’s crash. They said it was unclear what became of the driver, or whether he or she is facing any charges.


About the Author:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.