Life Saver: City to begin installation of traffic signal at intersection of Dana Road and FM 802

Mario Gonzalez knows that nothing will bring back his son, but he believes the city's decision to install a traffic light at the intersection of Dana Road and FM 802 will help others.

"It is going to save a lot of lives," Gonzalez said.

His son, Mario, a 24-year-old U.S. Border Patrol agent, Cynthia Hernandez Carreon, a 23-year-old U.S. Customs agent and friend, and her husband Jorge Alberto Carreon, 24, died in March 2006 when Jorge Ivan Arellano, now 29, struck their vehicle with his own. Arellano is serving a life sentence for intoxication manslaughter.

Three white crosses memorialize the spot near the intersection that has become known for the number of traffic accidents that occur there.

From 1998 through March 2007, there were 98 accidents at the intersection. Two of those accidents involved fatalities, according to the Brownsville Police Department.

Gonzalez believes that a traffic light might have averted accidents, including teh one involving his son.

"Besides our kids that died there, another two people died and there have been several other accidents," Gonzalez said. "A traffic light could save lives. We have to take it day by day. Nothing is going to bring them back. Diosito sabe porque (only God knows why)."

The intersection is just too busy, police Sgt. Jimmy Manrique said.

"I am surprised there haven't been more accidents," he said.

City Traffic Director Robert Esparza also pointed out that there have been so many accidents and numerous fatalities at the intersection.

"My condolences to the families," he first noted.

The city will design the traffic signal work that should start next week. Esparza said the design should be completed by the end of October.

The state will then review it and initiate construction. Esparza estimated that construction could take several months.

Esparza said that on a scale of one to five with five being the highest, the need at the intersection scored a five, raising it to priority level.

The city also is working on traffic signals that should be operational soon at Price Road and Sloss Drive and the intersection of Old Highway 77, Central Boulevard. and Media Luna Road.

 AT A GLANCE

From 1998 to March 2007, there were 98 accidents at the FM 802 and Dana Road. There were five fatalities in just more than a year.

>March 2006: Mario Gonzalez, a 24-year-old U.S. Border Patrol agent, and friends U.S. Customs agent Cynthia Hernandez Carreon, 23, and her husband Jorge Alberto Carreon, 24 died in a two-vehicle collision at the intersection. They were in one vehicle.

>June 2007: Mari Cruz Muñoz, 28 and Alberto Peña, 46, died in a two-vehicle collision. Each was in a separate vehicle.

From 2006 to the present:

>There were eight hit-and-run accidents

>There were 23 major accidents

>There were 29 minor accidents

Source: Brownsville Police Department reports.