Overview
- Houston police say a Dodge Ram struck the woman around 6:20 a.m. in the 9500 block of Westheimer, a second vehicle also hit her and left, and the Ram’s driver remained with no signs of intoxication reported.
- The Washington Post ranked Westheimer first nationally with 19 pedestrian deaths in a 3.5-mile section from 2021 to 2023 and placed FM 1960 fourth with 11 deaths.
- The Post’s analysis of federal and public records found yearly pedestrian deaths rose 70% between 2010 and 2023.
- More than 3,800 pedestrians were pronounced dead at the scene in 2023, and the rate of on-scene deaths more than doubled, indicating more violent impacts.
- Experts cited larger, heavier vehicles with tall front ends and nighttime visibility problems as key risks, while the Post reported slow local investments and uneven federal support for safety upgrades.