‘We need to really look at this.’ Lawmaker considers hospital safety bill after deadly crash
By Matt Grant,
2 days ago
Project Summary:
This story is part of KXAN’s “Preventing Disaster” investigation, which initially published on May 15, 2024. The project follows a fatal car crash into an Austin hospital’s emergency room earlier that year. Our team took a broader look at safety concerns with that crash and hundreds of others across the nation – including whether medical sites had security barriers – known as bollards – at their entrances. Experts say those could stop crashes from happening.
“We’ll sit down with the hospitals and kind of get their take on exactly how we go about tackling and resolving this particular problem,” said State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas. “I’m committed to it.”
It’s been nearly eight months to the day since a drunk driver drove her car into the Austin ER , killing herself and seriously injuring five people, including all four members of the Bernard family. At the Texas Capitol, West had a message.
“We re-emphasize to the Bernard family: What happened to you is a tragedy and it shouldn’t happen again in the state of Texas,” West said. “And, I’m going to do everything I can in my power to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“So, all of that’s taken into consideration,” he said.
Earlier this year, KXAN traveled to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute near College Station to see how crash-rated security barriers, called bollards, can stop a speeding car . After the Austin crash and during our investigation, St. David’s installed a dozen bollards. While experts say these devices can save lives, KXAN found no local, state or federal requirement for critical infrastructure, like hospitals, to have them — even though medical facilities carry extra risk, with patients in distress driving right up to the entrance.
“Do you think hospitals should be required to install crash-rated security bollards?” KXAN investigative reporter Matt Grant asked West.
“Given what happened to the Bernard family,” West said, “we need to really look at this particular issue.”
West will make a decision on whether to file legislation to create a uniform statewide bollard standard after speaking with hospital officials, he said. He also wants to research what other states have done.
KXAN checked and previously found California updated its law in 2022 to allow insurance company discounts for businesses that install bollards.
Over the past decade, the Storefront Safety Council , which tracks crashes, worked to help pass local ordinances requiring crash-rated “vehicle impact protection devices,” like bollards, in business parking lots in at least five cities and counties. Three were sparked by deadly crashes:
West also wants to meet with the Bernard family during the legislative session. He said what happened to them should concern all lawmakers.
“You do a cost-benefit analysis: Life over a few dollars,” West said. “And, you know where I’m coming down on that. I think life is more important than a few dollars.”
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