HOUSTON — A multi-agency task force was launched to address the alarming number of crashes on State Highway 99, a road that locals have dubbed the "highway to hell" due to its dangerous conditions. From the start of the year to early November, authorities investigated thousands of crashes, with nine resulting in fatalities.
“This area has Frequent activity from us over here. There's a lot of crashes that result in fatalities on this roadway,” Lonnie Hilson with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.
If you've ever driven on the Grand Parkway at Highway 99 you've no doubt seen how fast people like to go. So, on Wednesday Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales will share a new initiative to fight what he calls an alarming increase in crashes and fatalities. He gave us a preview of the task force Tuesday afternoon.
Sheriff Gonzales said the new initiative brings together Harris County, Fort Bend County, and the Texas Department of Public Safety to combat the safety crisis on SH-99, also known as the Grand Parkway. Sheriff Gonzales said the problem was urgent.
"From the start of the year to when the initiative began in the early stages of November, we had over 2,200 crashes that we had investigated," Gonzalez said.
The effort includes traffic stops, speed detection and public service announcements.
The effort is deeply personal for some. David Tzic lost his wife Lupe and 9-month-old son Ezekiel in a chain-reaction crash last year. His 5-year-old son Isaiah survived with major brain damage.
"I would consider it the highway to hell," Tzic said.
If you would like to help the family as they continue around-the-clock care for Isaiah, they are raising funds on GoFundMe.
David Mills founded the Kailee Mills Foundation after losing his 16-year-old daughter in a nearby crash, supports the initiative.
"It takes education, it takes community involvement," Mills said. "Partnerships with law enforcement, schools, and the community are critical to changing these behaviors."
The Foundation focuses on educating people about the importance of always wearing a seatbelt. They are currently taking scholarship applications.
Sheriff Gonzales confirmed the task force will continue "for the foreseeable future" to address the highway's safety concerns.