A council member is seeking added enforcement and a possible stop sign after a car crashed beside children playing in a backyard.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A crash that sent a speeding car through a backyard fence near three young children is prompting Fort Worth officials to examine traffic controls and enforcement along a north Fort Worth roadway where residents say dangerous driving has been an ongoing concern.
The Sept. 13 crash occurred along Heritage Trace Parkway near the 1500 block of Heritage Trace. Fort Worth police said a Chevrolet Camaro lost control while speeding and struck a fence. Surveillance video from the property showed debris flying into a backyard where a 2-year-old girl and 5-year-old twin boys were near a swimming pool. None of the children was injured.
Fort Worth City Council member Charlie Lauersdorf, who represents District 4, visited the area after the crash and said the city should examine ways to slow traffic. He told CBS News Texas that an immediate goal was to place a stop sign near the crash site. He said long stretches of roadway in newer developments can create conditions in which drivers travel without encountering features that require them to slow down.
Lauersdorf said he hoped a stop sign could be installed within 30 days, if not sooner. He also said a broader traffic study could follow to determine whether additional measures, including a traffic signal, would be appropriate. NBC 5 reported that Lauersdorf also asked Fort Worth police to conduct targeted speed enforcement in the area and said police agreed to increase their presence.
Neighbors say the concerns existed before the crash. Toni Gunter, who lives a few houses away, told CBS News Texas that she regularly hears traffic moving through the area at what she considers dangerous speeds. Her account adds to complaints that the road’s design and driving behavior have created risks for homes bordering the corridor.
The Sept. 13 crash brought those concerns into sharper focus because of how close the vehicle and flying debris came to the children. Police said officers responded at about 7 p.m. after the car collided with the fence. FOX 4 reported that the Camaro also struck a concrete pillar before moving back toward the roadway and eventually stopping.
Police said there were two people in the Camaro. A passenger was taken to a hospital, while the driver and residents of the home were not reported injured. The passenger’s latest condition had not been publicly disclosed in the reports reviewed. Authorities have not released the driver’s identity.
The driver was cited for reckless driving. The children’s parents have publicly argued that a citation does not adequately reflect the danger posed by the crash. In a statement released through local media, the family said it wanted to work with city officials, law enforcement, neighborhood leaders and others on changes intended to prevent another close call.
Any longer-term roadway changes would depend on further city review. A stop sign was under consideration, increased police speed enforcement had been requested, and Lauersdorf said a traffic study could help determine whether more extensive controls are warranted. No additional action against the driver had been publicly announced as of the latest reports reviewed.
Author note: Last updated September 16, 2026.