BURLESON (CBSDFW.COM) – Residents in Burleson have long complained about a stretch of Burleson Retta Road, saying that it gets too dark there at nighttime. In fact, on the night of a fatal crash that left four people dead, residents said that the only lights came from the emergency vehicles responding to that tragedy.
“If you don’t know where the curves are, it can be very dangerous,” said driver Sheila Chaney.
It was six months ago when Breanna Mitchell, Brian Jennings, Shelby Boyles and Hollie Boyles were killed in that crash. Now, despite their many complaints, residents said that nothing has been done to make the roadway safer. There are still sharp corners, a blind hill and no shoulder for emergencies.
“Nothing’s happened,” added area driver Rick Jacobi. “You really can’t see when you make this turn. You don’t know if there’s anyone coming on over.”
A 16-year-old driver was behind the wheel when that crash took place. Ethan Couch admitted to driving drunk — three times the legal limit for adults — and causing the fatal crash. Earlier this week, he received a controversial sentence of 10 years probation, with orders to head to an aggressive rehabilitation program in California.
Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson said that the events of that night were the fault of the driver, not the road. “I think when people choose to make these terrible decisions that this person made, and they go outside the law, it doesn’t matter,” Anderson said. “Lights aren’t going to matter. Roadways aren’t going to matter. There is going to be a tragic ending.”
Now, a cross is the only sign that remains of the deadly crash.
Commissioner Roy Brooks represents the area and said that his office is not aware of any complaints filed about Burleson Retta Road. He went on to say that no inspection has ever indicated any unsafe conditions. Brooks said that his office would be happy to look over the road if they received a complaint.
But residents in Burleson do not need reports or inspections, they said. To see the danger, they added, all you need to do is drive along the roadway yourself. “I wish there was something they could do to make it a little safer,” Chaney said.
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