DPS Says Dirt Roads a Serious Concern; Causing Major Accidents
By: Ashley Hinson
Updated: March 12, 2013
After a Lubbock mother was killed last month in a car accident on a county road south of town, the Department of Public Safety is urging folks to adjust how they drive on unpaved roads.
You may remember 37-year-old Sanjuana Hernandez had her two kids in the car with her when she was killed in a wreck on county road 7900.
Cpl. John Gonzalez said the reason we are seeing an increase in these accidents is because more people are moving out to the country and using the dirt roads.
But Gonzalez said those folks are only used to driving in the city and don't know to adjust their speed while on unpaved roads.
Gonzalez said in order to avoid accidents, especially as we get into severe weather season, people need to be cautious on the dirt roads.
"Unfortunately, some people who are moving out there may not know what kind of conditions these roads will get under inclement weather where there is heavy rain, sand storms, again ice and snow, they can change the actual surface of the roadway," said Gonzalez. "We just want to encourage people to be vigilant when they're out there driving that they pay attention to those conditions and they adjust their speed accordingly to those conditions as they change."
Gonzalez said besides watching your speed on the roads to also make sure you wear your seatbelt.
Many of the ejections he sees are because people don't buckle up.
