Two pedestrians were struck and killed in Dallas in two different car accidents over the holiday weekend.
The first incident occurred just after midnight on Sunday. Police responded to a call involving a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle in the 3300 block of Great Trinity Forest Way. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man lying on the ground.
After conducting a preliminary investigation, officers determined the driver — who has not been named by authorities — was traveling eastbound and had a green light at Wadsworth Drive. Everett Michael, 58, crossed the street near the crosswalk and was hit by the vehicle.
The driver immediately stopped and stayed at the scene, according to police. There is currently no indication that the driver will be charged.
Michael was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. The incident took place in District 8, which is represented by Dallas City Council Member Tennell Atkins.
The other incident occurred the same night at about 2 a.m. in the 2700 block of South Buckner Boulevard near Hume Drive — in Dallas City Council Member Jaime Resendez’s District 5.
Dallas police said a man was crossing South Buckner Boulevard when he was hit by a vehicle heading northbound. Immediately following the collision, the vehicle crossed the median and struck a wooden light pole at Blossom Lane. The man died at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle, 21-year-old Morgan Neal, was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated. Police said Neal could face more charges.
With only around 3,100 officers employed at the Dallas Police Department, crime suppression efforts have been stretched thin in recent years. “For years the City has been trying to bump the number of officers to upwards of 4,000, but to no avail. Michael Mata — president of the Dallas Police Association, previously told the Dallas Observer, “If we could put in policies that would help retention of those senior officers to stay three to maybe five more years than they had planned to, that would help us in that five-year plan of catching up in hiring.”
The effects of the shortage have likely affected Downtown Dallas, which has seen significantly more crime in recent years compared to nearby Fort Worth’s downtown area. The latter has reportedly benefited from collaboration between its dedicated neighborhood police unit and private security guards.