Residents concerned about dangerous and deadly road
Residents are concerned about a dangerous road in El Paso’s Lower Valley, following a deadly crash over the weekend.
The crash happened after 1 A.M. Saturday on the 300 block of Pendale Road. Police say 24-year-old Daniel Pichardo was speeding when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree. Pichardo and his 21-year-old passenger both died at the scene.
“I noticed a lot of nights and I saw the tape and I knew right away it was a death,” Jesse Garcia, who’s lived on Pendale Road for decades, said.
Police tell ABC-7 speeding was a factor in the crash, but it’s no surprise to ABC-7 viewers who say they see drivers speeding there all the time. Some of them say cars have crashed and ended up on their yards.
“They go real quick, real fast and it’s really bad,” Dora Meraz, who’s lived on Pendale Road for more than 40 years, said.
“I don’t let my kids play up front just because I’ve had trucks land in my yard,” Garcia said.
In July, a man was seriously injured after being hit by a car on Pendale Road and Link Drive. In 2013, a man was killed following a crash at the intersection of North Loop and Pendale. Police told ABC-7 a 20-year-old man ran a red light and crashed into a car, killing the man.
The road takes you through the Lower Valley, the speed limit is 30 miles an hour and includes a curve that can take unfamiliar drivers off guard.
“Pendale is a very treacherous roadway, a very dangerous roadway,” City Representative Lily Limon, who represents that district, said.
Representative Limon says she knows there’s an issue. A few years ago, residents requested a survey asking the city for speed humps. The city instead, installed reflectors along the curve.
“But even then, we’ve had some accidents where they take some of those poles out,” Representative Limon said.
With another deadly wreck over the weekend, Rep. Limon says she’s coordinating a neighborhood meeting to find a solution.
“I would love for the city to come and be able to do something. We do need some help,” Meraz said.
Rep. Limon is coordinating the neighborhood meeting for after the holidays. Other city officials tell ABC-7 the city’s Streets and Maintenance Department is in the process of conducting a study on Pendale Road, but they couldn’t say how soon that study will be completed and what, if anything, it may conclude.
