Dallas crash that injures six children re-emphasizes Loop 12's danger zone – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

A weekend crash that injured six children was caused by a speeding driver who was drunk and ran a red light at an intersection at Loop 12 and Ledbetter Boulevard, according to Dallas police. a street that continues to be the most dangerous in Dallas.

An ongoing NBC 5 investigation titled “Driven to Death” has found that crash data from the Texas Department of Transportation showed at least 15 people died in crashes on Loop 12 in the first nine months of 2024.

New data checked by NBC 5 is investigating also showed that Loop 12 leads the city in fatal crashes involving alcohol or drugs, with 63 fatalities in crashes involving a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol since 2019.

Following NBC 5's reporting, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) has pledged to make a major effort to transform Loop 12 into a safer, slower road through both new road construction and increased policing.

The Loop is a state highway and a city highway in Dallas, so implementing safety changes requires coordination among multiple entities.

“I think it's an emergency. And I think it’s being treated.” [with] in this way,” Michael Morris, the NCTCOG's transportation director, told NBC 5 in an interview that aired earlier this month.

NBC Investigates learns more about plans to involve the community in the process of redesigning safety on Loop 12. Staff for State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, told NBC 5 Investigates that he will hold a town hall meeting to update progress on the effort at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at 3030 Stag Road in Dallas.

West called the first town hall meeting to discuss the matter earlier this year NBC 5 is investigating reported a shocking number of deaths on Loop 12, including one spot where six pedestrians were killed in 17 months.

“Of course something has to be done. And we can't just study it. We have to do something about it,” West said in February.

Last month, the Dallas City Council voted to lower the speed limit on portions of Loop 12.

Council members described this as a first step but acknowledged further enforcement and road design changes may be needed to address other threats such as impaired driving and excessive speeding.