Sheriff targets problem areas

NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY – Unincorporated areas of Harris County have new help on the way to deal with locations known for excessive wrecks, speeding and drivers with unusual habits.

Two Northeast Harris County fatal accidents last week, two the previous week and numerous accidents on FM 2100 (including two for the last three weeks in front of Crosby High School) preceded the decision.

Captain Michael O’Brien, head of the District III Wallisville Substation’s Patrol Division, has launched a new initiative to enable more public safety on local roadways. O’Brien has assigned Deputy G. Golden a traffic enforcement task targeted at addressing traffic complaints made by citizens in the district. “Sometimes the visibilities of law enforcement at the said locations are a deterrent.” explained O’Brien.

An accident on the 12,900 block of Beaumont Highway on June 16 at about 8:56 a.m. took the life of Carolyn Sue West, 50, when a bobtail truck trying to apply breaks in the rain, spun counterclock wise and into the westbound lane of traffic. It could have been any resident using Beaumont Highway that was victim to the high volume of truck traffic on that highway at rush hour.

Harris County Sheriff’s Traffic Division reports indicate that on June 15, at about 10:00 p.m. in the 9700 block of Pineland, two pedestrians were struck by a 1995 Thunderbird as they crossed the street. Romero Clemuel Alexander was charged with manslaughter in the death of Jose Manuel Cardona, 20, when investigation revealed that Alexander had been driving on the wrong side of the road.

According to Deputy Golden, “I first make contact with the complainant and generate a report regarding the traffic complaint. Next, I set up a time to actually do the traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is done on various days at various hours, depending upon the time, day of the week and location the traffic infractions are taking place.”

Golden indicated that citizen’s response to the initiative has been positive and is being implemented throughout the district.