July 9th, 2010
Downtown accident mars Thursday night traffic

This was the scene Thursday night at Guadalupe Street and Hopkins Street in San Marcos, where two cars collided at the intersection. Photo by Sean Batura.

By SEAN BATURA
News Reporter

Two disabled vehicles graced the flower patch in front of the Hays County Records Building in downtown San Marcos after a sedan carrying a small child ran a red light Thursday evening.

A gold Chevrolet Trailblazer traveling southbound on Guadalupe Street slammed into a green Ford Escort SE as it traveled westbound on Hopkins Street at about 6:41 p.m.

No one was seriously injured in the accident, though a very different outcome may have occurred had the little girl not been well-secured in her child seat, said Patrol Officer Jesse Saavedra of the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD).

“She could have been thrown into this door had she just been sitting in the back,” Saavedra said. “She could also have took the brunt of the injury over (on the other door) and then got thrown into this side. It definitely paid off to have her in that car seat. And she was strapped in well, which is good. A lot of time, they’re just sitting in the car seat, but she was strapped in.”

Saavedra said both parties to the accident had the same story: that the driver of the Escort crossed the intersection illegally. Numerous witnesses were seen stepping forward to give their accounts.

The eastbound side of Hopkins Street was closed to allow a tow truck to transport the Trailblazer. SMPD officers were on-scene about 30 seconds after the accident, and a police officer directed traffic through the intersection about one minute after the crash.

Saavedra said police responded so quickly because he was at the next corner and heard the impact, and there was a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agent on the other side of the street from the incident, inside Newton Gang’s Getaway Saloon & Eatery.

Property damage from the accident included crushed flowers and a traffic sign completely ripped from its foundation.

The Trailblazer carried one adult female. The Escort carried only the mother and child. The mother was bloodied, though she was able to stand and hold her girl while San Marcos/Hays County EMS inspected them. After determining they did not have life-threatening injuries, EMS personnel transported the mother and child away from the scene.