Neighbors and those who walk, run and bike the trail support the idea of the city installing lighting. Park hours are from sunset to sunrise.
SAN ANTONIO — A late-night walk along the Salado Creek Greenway turned into a frightening experience for one woman on the northeast side who police say woke up Tuesday morning on the trail without any clothes, suffering multiple head injuries.
San Antonio police officers, who responded to 8500 Laurens Lane, are investigating the incident as a sexual assault case.
According to police, a 31-year-old woman was walking home from a convenience store Monday evening. She had taken the Tobin Park Trailhead and at some point, she blacked out and woke up around 7 a.m. Police say she woke up naked then ran to her apartment complex where she called for help. The victim does not know what happened and has no suspect information.
Neighbors like Robert James are stunned.
“That’s really scary,” James said. “Because it’s dark back there at nighttime so you really can’t see anything.”
James’ backyard is the trail that turned into a crime scene. His girlfriend alerted him of what was going on.
“My girlfriend calls me and says that there’s about 10 cop cars out here, they’re going to cordon off the area, they’re putting yellow tape and stuff,” James said.
Dan Coomer runs this particular path at least three times a week and for the most part feels safe. However, he’s still cautious.
“I have had some thoughts. It might be a little bit more dangerous because it’s kind of secluded,” Coomer said.
Coomer alongside other walkers, runners and bikers KENS 5 talked with expressed support for lights to be installed along the path.
“Especially as it starts getting dark. Even in the day sometimes when it’s cloudy it’s pretty dark so absolutely I think lights would be great,” Coomer said.
As for James, he’s taken matters into his own hands to make sure his son is safe while traveling on the trail.
“My son comes home on that pathway at night so I leave the bright light on so that he can see when he comes in and I gave him a reflective thing so he can walk back there because it’s really dark, there’s no lights back there,” James said.
Detectives were on scene Tuesday afternoon digging for any clues. The case remains an ongoing investigation.