HOUSTON – Editors note: We want to apologize to a local family and to our viewers. Earlier today when we aired this story about a dangerous intersection, we used a photograph that showed a woman who was killed in a crash. We are deeply sorry for the pain it has caused the family. We have removed the image and personally contacted the family to apologize. We are also conducting an immediate review of our newsroom procedures to make sure this does not happen again.
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Neighbors in a southwest Houston community say they’re living in fear not because of crime, but because of crashes.
The intersection at the Beltway 8 feeder road and Hiram Clarke has become a hotspot for traffic accidents, according to residents who live nearby. They’ve been documenting crashes, sometimes multiple in a day, and say the danger has only gotten worse since Hiram Clarke Road’s expansion.
“When Hiram Clarke opened, the level of accidents became more severe and more frequent,” said Megan Neal, a homeowner in the area. “People are getting T-boned. People are getting rear-ended. At the very best, your car is totaled. At worst, you’re seeing life-changing injuries.”
Neal is one of several residents who’ve taken it upon themselves to document accidents at the intersection. Their neighborhood Facebook group has turned into a crash compilation page, with photo after photo showing vehicles flipped on their sides, glass shattered, and bumpers destroyed.
“We’re not talking about fender benders,” Neal added. “Some of the crashes we’ve seen cars are flipped completely over.”
Despite residents’ claims of frequent collisions, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported just three minor accidents at the location since January all on the southern side of the intersection.
Harris County Precinct 7 Constable’s deputies have been seen responding to the area by people. The Constable’s office told KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun HCSO collects the crash data.
Neal and others argue those numbers don’t reflect the full picture.
“Our group has documented at least 14 accidents in the last few months,” she said. “We don’t always have a sheriff or constable responding. And sometimes it’s different precincts that show up, so it doesn’t always get counted the same way.”
Residents believe part of the problem is confusion. Drivers on the Beltway feeder road often stop unnecessarily thinking it’s a four-way stop even though it isn’t.
“I don’t quite know what it is,” Neal said, “but something really confuses people about this intersection and they take chances they shouldn’t.”
As KPRC 2 crews were out reporting, multiple drivers were seen stopping at the intersection where no stop sign exists underscoring the point made by homeowners.
What neighbors want is simple: a traffic signal.
They believe a light would remove the guesswork and make the intersection safer.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) tells KPRC 2 that help is on the way but it won’t be immediate.
TxDOT statement:
“We recently looked at upcoming projects and this location was selected for funding, design and letting (putting out for bid). We anticipate this location to have a signal installed in 12–18 months. In the meantime, to assist with safety concerns, we have added ‘Cross Traffic Does Not Stop’ signs to the existing signs to increase driver awareness of approaching vehicles. We will do our best to accelerate the design process. We will continue to monitor safety at the intersection. It’s important to remind the traveling public to obey traffic signage, slow down and always drive while focused."
But for Neal, that timeline is concerning.
“I am angry because something needs to be done and it needs to be done faster than December of 2026,” she said. “It feels like an emergency at this point in time.”
Still, Neal acknowledges that even a traffic light isn’t a perfect solution, “will a light guarantee there’s never an accident? No. But it’s a start. And we need that start now.”