A violent four-car pileup in the Bishop Arts District late Saturday night injured seven people and caused widespread disruption.
The crash, which occurred just before 11 p.m. at North Tyler and West Davis streets, involved a driver who police say struck a stopped car at a traffic light, triggering a chain reaction.
“It was pretty much a highway wreck on a residential road,” witness Anthony Ozuna, who was at a nearby bar, told NBC 5 DFW.
“Cars were flipped over. It was a four-car pileup; it’s crazy. You see a car on top of another car, and it’s one of those, like, how does that car get there?” Ozuna said, per CBS News Texas.
The collision caused one vehicle to hit a utility pole, resulting in power outages to several businesses in the area.
“It was crazy last night. Pretty much everyone is having a good time, there’s music going, then ‘boom’ you hear a car crash and all the power just goes out,” Ozuna said, per NBC 5.
Bystanders, including bar patrons and staff, rushed to assist.
“All of our guests and staff jumped into action. It was probably about 100 people out here,” Jake Cruz, a bar employee, told CBS.
Six victims were hospitalized in stable condition, while the suspected driver was in critical condition, police said.
“One of my friends, she works in the medical field, she went to go help them,” Ozuna added, per NBC 5.
“Just walking up and seeing all of the vehicles, all four vehicles stacked up, really surreal,” said Eddy Galeano, a resident of North Tyler Street, according to NBC 5.
The area has a history of crashes, including two reported this year at a nearby roundabout. One occurred in May when a speeding car went airborne and hit a townhome.
Councilmember Chad West addressed ongoing safety concerns, stating, per CBS, “This latest collision at Tyler and Davis reaffirms why the city’s Public Works Department must take aggressive action to ensure pedestrians, residents and small businesses are safe. It’s past time for the city to enhance traffic calming measures in this corridor and speeding enforcement.”
The city’s Public Works Department is studying the roundabout, but West said the study remains incomplete.
Less than four hours after the pileup, another crash occurred nearby when a driver hit a dog grooming business.
“I’ve seen the different measures. I don’t know what exactly will work. It’s straight to the highway, people like to race down it, it’s a little troublesome,” Galeano said, according to NBC 5.
Utility crews restored power and internet services Sunday. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.