Brazos Valley resident requests change after fatal HWY 6 crash: ‘Too many people are losing their lives’

BRAZOS VALLEY, Texas (KBTX) – A multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 6 and FM 2549 resulted in the death of a woman, and sent three others to a nearby hospital with injuries.

DPS investigators said a truck pulling a trailer hit a sedan while turning onto the highway. The sedan hit a hatchback vehicle, and then spun into traffic, hitting an 18-wheeler head-on.

The driver of the sedan who died in the crash was identified as Diana Burleson, 66, of Franklin. Two other drivers and a 10-year-old were hospitalized with minor injuries.

Long-time Bryan resident, Sandra Dean, told KBTX crashes like these happen all too often. Sandra has lived off Highway 6 and OSR for 29 years, and as time has gone by she’s noticed more crashes.

“Something has to be done,” Dean insisted. “Too many people are losing their lives, too many.”

In this particular crash, Dean believed a speed limit set at 70 miles per hour and drivers distracted by their phones are what cause the crashes. Her suggestion is a speed limit reduction, patrol increase, and erecting barriers on the highway as ways to create a safer thoroughfare.

“Cement walls that divide the two different directions of traffic, that’s really what they need to check into doing out here. It’s bad. People will drive in front of you and cut you off,” said Dean. “I’ve nearly been hit several times myself.”

The Chief Deputy with the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), Bill Ruland, said speeding is one of the common denominators in those crashes.

“My big thing is everybody slow down. Quit changing lanes so much,” Deputy Ruland urged. “You’re going to get there even if there’s slower traffic in front of you. That area is very important that you be vigilant while you’re driving and slow down.”

What’s more is Deputy Ruland said that stretch of highway is a difficult area to patrol.

“It’s very constricted compared to the rest of Highway 6. Like south of OSR or even north of Hearne, it is very constricted. It is not a divided roadway, which is very dangerous,” warned Deputy Ruland. “There’s no retaining wall down the middle or anything to keep vehicles from coming across into oncoming traffic.”

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), almost 350 crashes have taken place on Highway 6 between Bryan and Hearne in the last five years. 13 of those crashes happened along Highway 6 and FM 2549. In those crashes, 11 people have died.

TxDOT is currently conducting a study on South Highway 6 in Robertson and Brazos counties to improve the corridor’s safety and mobility. Part of the study will address safety concerns at intersection Highway 6 and FM 2549 specifically.