A San Antonio crash that killed a woman on her porch prompts calls for traffic safety improvements in the area.
SAN ANTONIO — A deadly crash in an east-side neighborhood has renewed calls for traffic-safety improvements after a 70-year-old woman was struck and killed while sitting on her front porch Tuesday night.
San Antonio police said Janice Walker was on her porch on Dafoste Street around 11 p.m. when a speeding driver lost control, hit a curb and crashed into her home, striking Walker. The driver ran off, and police are still searching for the suspect.
Neighbors rushed to try to lift the car off Walker, but she died from her injuries.
“You don’t know when people are going to leave,” neighbor Marie Rose said. “He’s wrong for that… you ain’t got away because God sees what you did.”
Residents say speeding has been a long-standing problem in the area. Nearby streets have been fitted with speed bumps, but neighbors say Dafoste Street was overlooked.
“We assumed they were going to do Dafoste, but they never did,” resident Renee Davis said.
City leaders have since confirmed they plan to conduct a traffic study in the area. District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez said officials are considering both short and long-term solutions, including speed bumps, flashing lights and new warning signs.
“It’s a tragedy that this had to happen to influence them to get it done,” said Armond Hathaway, president of the Coliseum Willow Park Neighborhood Association. “Please slow down.”
The victim’s family told KENS 5 that a hedge once stood in the yard and had previously stopped a vehicle from crashing into the home years ago. The city confirmed the hedge was removed in 2023 to allow for sidewalk construction.
Anyone with information about the driver involved in Tuesday’s crash is urged to contact police.
Below is the full statement from District 2 Councilman:
“My deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Ms. Janice Walker, and to all who knew her. This loss is devastating, and it underscores a failure within our community to protect one another at all times.
Drivers have become increasingly reckless in recent years. We’ve all seen people running stop signs, ignoring speed limits, driving through medians, and using their phones behind the wheel, and this behavior has serious consequences. In this tragic case, it cost a life.
We are committed to both short- and long-term measures to calm traffic, including reviewing Dafoste Avenue for speed bumps, flashing lights, and warning signs. But the reality is, even the best traffic-calming measures will never be enough if drivers do not respect the rules of the road and take responsibility for our shared safety.
Ms. Walker will be remembered for her kindness and the love she showed to her family. We owe it to her, and to every resident, to do everything we can to prevent tragedies like this.”
The city of San Antonio also released a statement:
“This was a tragic incident that was the direct result of excessive speed. The City is committed to improving traffic safety in a way that reduces the probability of these types of incidents. Staff will review Dafoste Avenue to determine what potential improvements can be considered such as traffic-calming measures.
The hedges in the right-of-way at the home involved were removed in 2023 when sidewalks were built.”