Following an August 13 fatal crash on Toll 49 in East Texas that claimed the life of 70-year-old Sally Macher and left her husband, David Macher, paralyzed in intensive care, the couple’s daughter is advocating for safety improvements, KYTX News reports.
The Machers’ Jeep was struck head-on by another vehicle in the segment of the tollway where two-lane stretches without a median barrier have a posted speed limit of 75 MPH.
“According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 42 people have died in crashes on Toll 49 since 2013.” However, an agency spokesperson said the fatality rate is comparable to that of other highways in the region.
The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NETRMA), which operates Toll 49, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
TRN notes, the family of another woman who died in a head-on crash on Toll 49 earlier this summer also has been advocating for safety improvements, with support from other members of the public. They are pressing NETRMA to take action before launching the facility’s proposed Segment 6 extension near Tyler.