GALVESTON, Texas – The screech of tires and the sound of metal colliding have become all too familiar for neighbors living near Avenue O and 51st Street in Galveston.
“I think this intersection has a lot of accidents, and it’s very scary,” said Wendy Collins, who moved to a rental property on the corner earlier this summer. “I walk my dog in this neighborhood a lot, so I’m always super cautious, especially at night when there’s low lighting.”
Collins said drivers often assume the intersection is a three-way stop, but it’s not.
While 51st Street has stop signs in both directions, Avenue O does not. That confusion, combined with speeding drivers heading to and from the beach, has led to repeated wrecks.
Just weeks after moving in, Collins said a crash rattled her block.
“A car came through and didn’t realize there was no stop sign here and just blew past without stopping,” said Collins.
A KPRC 2 public records request found Galveston police have responded to the intersection at least 75 times in the past three years.
- In 2022, there were nine crashes.
- In 2023, there were ten.
- In 2024, that number jumped to 14 crashes, including three deadly wrecks.
- So far this year, police have already logged four more.
Galveston City Council member Alex Porretto, who represents District 4, acknowledges the problem.
“This is the longest stretch without a traffic barrier from 45th to 53rd Street,” Porretto said. “By the time drivers get to this intersection, they’re often trying to catch the light — and speeding and wrecks are a real issue down here.”
Porretto said a traffic study a few years ago led to lighted stop signs and reflectors at the intersection, but the crashes have continued.
KPRC 2 asked about the idea of traffic light getting installed at the intersection.
“A traffic light could create parking issues for residents on Avenue O,” he said. “But if people don’t slow down or pay attention, council has a duty to do something.”
He said options now being discussed include increased enforcement, speed traps, and possibly additional safety measures like better lighting.