BEAUMONT, Texas — A troubled intersection in Beaumont has become a point of contention for residents living at The Crossing Apartments.
The complex is a senior citizen community.
Residents say multiple people have been killed while trying to cross East Lucas and Pineburr Boulevard in the city's north end.
They tell 12News that many of them use wheelchairs to cross the street and get the store or the laundromat. Now one of the residents has started a petition in an effort to make the intersection safer.
Residents say they've lost neighbors, friends and even family members to this intersection. They're saying it's because drivers speed or simply don't observe the traffic light.
"We feel like roadkill," said Joy Roper, a resident.
Day after day, seniors living at The Crossing cautiously wait to cross East Lucas and Pineburr.
"They are afraid to come out or cross the street. It's the only way to get to the store or laundromat they have to press the cross run button to cross," resident Eric Petry said.
Petry feels like running errands is a life or death gamble because of the intersection.
"2014 the first death, then 2019, just a few days ago on March 2, 2024 we lost another lady that lived here," he said.
Roper says that the latest victim was her best friend, 62-year-old Betty Cooper. That's not the only person she's lost to the cross walk.
"Nine years ago my son got hit by a car. Crushed his skull knocked his brain a loose," she said.
Petry is the one who started the petition.
"I would rather the City of Beaumont put a real light here and trim the trees so people can see the real red light," he said.
12News turned to Beaumont Public Works Director Bart Bartkowiak for answers.
"Based on the recent accident that happened we're already undertaken a traffic study. We could put a full signal in but since we're already stopping traffic, really the traffic off Pineburr would be key to fully upgrade to a signalized intersection," he said.
In the meantime, residents are just hoping something will be done soon before anymore lives are lost.
"Maybe if you put a real red light up maybe they will stop," Roper said.
Residents want the speed decreased from 35 MPH. Bartkowiak says based on the traffic study the lowest it could go is 30 MPH.
Bartkowiak says the traffic study should be completed in the next three months, then the city will decide its next steps.