Van Alstyne sees car accidents rise nearly 80% due to construction on US-75

VAN ALSTYNE, Texas (KXII) – Crash rates in Van Alystne have increased nearly 80% this year due to the U.S. Highway 75 expansion project between the town and Anna.

“We have a lot of rear-end collisions and a lot of them with injuries because the speed is high,” Van Alstyne Police Chief Tim Barnes said. “People don’t pay attention to it, we do. Unfortunately, I send a lot of people to the hospital.”

Further south on US-75 in Anna, there were several serious fatal accidents.

The Van Alstyne Police Department has also noted that drivers cross the grassy median during an accident or traffic jam.

“That doesn’t mean it’s illegal in the state of Texas unless you’re asked to do so by a law enforcement officer,” Barnes said.

The violation is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and can also result in a dangerous accident.

“People don’t realize that these are two-lane secondary roads here in Van Alstyne, so a head-on collision can easily happen,” Barnes said.

As motorists look for an alternative route around the highway, traffic is being shifted to other parts of the city, which has created some danger near school zones.

“We have seen an increase in the number of school bus drivers,” Van Alstyne ISD Police Chief Jeff Burge said. “When the school buses are stopped and paddled and turned on with their turn signals on, traffic in both directions has decreased.”

Otherwise, students will be at risk when loading or unloading onto a school bus.

“These are the times when students are most at risk,” Burge said. “They often cross the street to catch or get off these buses and these vehicles do not slow down or stop for these buses at all. We are putting these children at serious risk.”

If the county can prove that a driver’s actions placed a child in imminent danger of death or bodily harm, it will file child endangerment charges.

“All of our buses have cameras, and if we witness a bus driver and we are able to capture him on camera, get the license plate number and identify the driver, we will file appropriate criminal charges,” Burge said.

These authorities are urging drivers to slow down and be vigilant.

“There are numerous construction signs indicating that you are in a construction zone. You need to be alert and reduce your speed,” Barnes said.

Work will begin in early 2025 to widen US-75 from the county line to FM 902 in Van Alstyne.

“This is just the beginning of a long time to come,” Barnes said. “This construction is just the first phase of many construction projects.”

Patience will carry drivers through the long road of construction that lies ahead.

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