The Thanksgiving Eve crash involved three cars, one of which is believed to have been speeding, according to SAPD.
SAN ANTONIO — Six people were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a head-on crash on the New Medina River Bridge left a pickup truck teetering on the guardrail — a situation police describe as an “absolute miracle” it didn’t fall off the bridge and into the riverbed below.
The crash happened on the south side around 4:30 p.m. off Pleasanton Road, just south of Mitchell Lake. According to San Antonio police, a Toyota Camry driving northbound and a white Chevrolet truck heading southbound collided head-on at the crest of the bridge.
Sgt. Daniel Contreras with the San Antonio Police Department said investigators believe the Camry was speeding, but they aren’t sure which vehicle lost control to cause the crash.
The force of the impact flipped the truck, sending it up onto its side and leaving it halfway over the edge of the guardrail, balanced between the railing and the concrete embankment.
“Luckily it got caught there and stayed there,” Contreras said. “It flipped over and it’s hanging off the guardrail and part of the ditch… it just luckily got stopped right there.”
The Camry spun from the collision and struck a Toyota RAV4 traveling near it.
All six occupants across the three vehicles were taken to hospitals. Four victims were transported to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMMC) and two to University Hospital. All suffered minor injuries except the Camry driver, who was taken in life-threatening condition.
Traffic detectives went to the hospital to speak with those involved to determine exactly how the crash unfolded.
Residents who live along Pleasanton Road say crashes like this have become routine — especially between Moursund Boulevard and Loop 1604.
Maria “Nena” Reyes, who lives just south of the crash, said she’s filed multiple reports with officials asking for repairs for years.
“This is not the first one. I have seen several car accidents on this road,” Reyes said. “I have already reported that this road needs to be fixed and they don’t fix it.”
We met Reyes as she was waiting near the crash scene — stuck for hours as traffic backed up in both directions. Cars eventually began turning around due to the standstill.
She says heavy diesel trucks and brick-hauling rigs are destroying the road faster than the city can patch it.
“You lose control because you don’t know there’s a dent there, a hole coming up. Your car’s gonna bounce or you’re gonna hurt your oil pan,” Reyes explained. “It’s a very dangerous road, this road.”
Reyes said she’s seen multiple crashes recently, including a rollover just before Loop 1604 the day before.
She’s also concerned about the structural integrity of the bridge.
“One of these days something’s gonna collapse and [cause cars to] lose control more than what they did right now,” she said. “I think that’s what happened today.”
As Thanksgiving approaches, Reyes said she is heartbroken for the victims and their families.
“It makes me real sad because it is gonna be Thanksgiving and they’re not gonna spend it with their families,” she said. “I just pray everything goes fine with those people that got hurt and they come through.”
KENS 5 has reached out to City Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, who represents the district, and Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores to ask about any known issues tied to this stretch of road.
We are waiting to hear back.